Elon Musk has declared his intention to pursue legal action against Media Matters for America, a liberal watchdog group that has frequently targeted both him and his company, X. Musk announced on X that he plans to file a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters and all parties involved in what he perceives as a fraudulent attack on his company, including their board, donors, and network of dark money.
The dispute stems from an article by Media Matters accusing X of running ads for Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle, and Xfinity next to what they termed “pro-Nazi content.” Since the article’s publication, both Apple and IBM have announced the suspension of advertising on X. Musk alleges that Media Matters manipulated the platform to deceive advertisers, creating an alternate account to curate posts and advertising in a misleading manner.
Musk also criticized Media Matters for what he described as their malicious intent, particularly in their attempt to undermine freedom of speech and mislead advertisers. He went on to describe Media Matters as “pure evil.”
This latest conflict follows Musk’s recent statements on X that drew attention to antisemitism concerns. Musk appeared to endorse sentiments accusing Jews in America of promoting “hatred against whites.” After initially supporting these views, Musk later declared a ban on users expressing certain euphemisms, earning praise from the Anti-Defamation League.
Media Matters, known for its far-left stance, has a history of initiating advertiser boycotts against right-wing organizations. The organization, led by President Angelo Carusone, has faced controversy in the past for its selective editing and campaigns against advertisers on Fox News. Carusone himself has been criticized for past blog posts denigrating various groups.
In response to Musk’s legal threat, Carusone dismissed Musk’s claim of a meritless lawsuit, asserting that Musk admitted to the ads running alongside pro-Nazi content. Carusone expressed confidence that, if sued, Media Matters would prevail in court.
