Tag Archives: RightWing

Elon Musk Sparks Right-Wing Backlash Over Child Characters: ‘Cancel Netflix’

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Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has recently attracted attention for urging people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, citing concerns over LGBTQ+ characters.

Musk, the richest man in the world with an estimated net worth of around $500 million, has encouraged his 227 million followers on X, the platform he oversees, to cancel their Netflix subscriptions. In just the past three days, he has posted or shared calls to cancel Netflix at least 26 times.

The backlash against Netflix began on Tuesday when Musk tweeted, “This isn’t okay.”

He referred to the Netflix show Dead End Paranormal Park as “pro-transgender for kids,” noting that it is rated TV-Y7, which signifies suitability for children aged 7 and over. The show aired 20 episodes in 2022 before being canceled by Netflix the following year, and it is currently not being promoted by the company.

Zack Barack, the voice of Barney and the first openly trans actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, quickly rebutted Musk’s claims on X, stating, “You can be afraid of everything you want, but my kids and parents told me it saved their lives!!”

Since then, Musk has shared several tweets from users who claim to have canceled their subscriptions in protest of what they believe to be a children’s brainwashing agenda involving LGBTQ+ content.

“Cancel Netflix for your child’s health,” Musk tweeted on Wednesday, quoting a meme that depicted Netflix’s “Transgender Woke Agenda” as a Trojan horse sneaking into a castle labeled “Your Child.”

On Thursday, he shared another user’s tweet stating, “Transgender propaganda isn’t just quietly hiding in the Netflix background. They’re actively pushing it,” linking to an article titled “Celebrating Trans Visibility in These 16 Movies and Shows” on Netflix’s Tudum Media site.

Musk also highlighted themes of pro-trans content in shows like Babysitters Club and Cocomelon, while sharing debunked claims linking Netflix to an “anti-white” hiring policy and calling out political donations from Netflix employees exclusively to Democrats for the 2024 election.

Additionally, Musk commented “Netflix Cancel” on a TikTok post referencing Netflix’s 2023 report on Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives.

Musk’s daughter, Vivian Wilson, who is transgender, has publicly criticized his anti-trans rhetoric. In a 2022 petition to legally change her name and gender, Wilson expressed:

Musk has since stated that he “essentially lost my son,” claiming he was “deceived” regarding gender-affirming care for Wilson, whom he referred to as “dead and killed by a woke mind virus.” He elaborated on these sentiments further.

Netflix has often championed free speech when it faced backlash over its content, yet has remained silent in response to Musk’s provocations. This isn’t the first time the company faced criticism from the right; in 2020, the release of the film Cuties, which dealt with a minor actress performing a sexual dance routine, sparked outrage leading to a significant increase in subscription cancellations in the U.S.

In 2021, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended comedian Dave Chappelle based on free speech principles, backing the company’s decision to commission specials from right-leaning comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, despite Hinchcliffe’s controversial remarks.

Musk’s calls for mass cancellations come amid Hollywood’s own free speech controversy triggered by the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, which faced backlash during the Trump administration. Following similar reactions from celebrities and Disney+ subscribers, the company reinstated Kimmel.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prevention League Triumphs in Extremism Research as Musk Champions Right-Wing Opposition

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The Prevention League, a leading Jewish advocacy and anti-hate organization in the nation, has removed over 1,000 pages of extremism research from its website after facing significant backlash from right-wing influencers and Elon Musk on Tuesday night.

The now-deleted “extremist glossary” from the ADL included more than 1,000 entries offering background information on various groups and ideologies associated with racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of hate. The section dedicated to neo-Nazi groups, militias, and anti-Semitic conspiracies has been redirected to a landing page featuring its extremism research.

Musk and various right-wing accounts on X have recently targeted the ADL over this glossary, which included references to Turning Point USA, associated with the late far-right activist Charlie Kirk. Musk responded to a post on X, criticizing the group for its entries on Christian identity and mistakenly conflating the militant movement with Christianity as a whole. In truth, the term refers to a faction that advocates for racial jihadism against Jews and other minorities.

The ADL did not directly address the backlash in its statements regarding this decision, instead arguing that removing the glossary would enable organizations to “explore new strategies and creative approaches to present data and research more effectively.”

“With over 1,000 entries compiled over the years, the extremist glossary has been a valuable resource for high-level information across a broad array of topics. However, the increase in entries has rendered many outdated,” stated the ADL. “We have observed many entries that have been intentionally misrepresented and misused. Furthermore, experts continue to develop more comprehensive resources and innovative means to convey information on anti-Semitism, extremism, and hatred.”

The decision to remove the glossary comes amid intense criticism faced by the ADL from staff and researchers, particularly concerning Israeli policies and its narrow focus on Musk’s repeated defenses. The organization lost a donor, and a prominent executive resigned following a statement by CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who has praised Musk.

The ADL has not addressed inquiries regarding the comprehensive resources mentioned in its statement. The glossary was launched in 2022 and marketed as the first database designed to aid the media, the public, and law enforcement in understanding extremist groups and their ideologies.

“We consider it the most extensive and user-friendly resource for extremist speech currently accessible to the public,” noted Oren Segal, senior vice president of the ADL Center, in a prior statement. “We believe an informed public is crucial for the defense of democracy.”

ADL pages that contained the 2022 press release now display a message stating, “You are not permitted to access this page.”

Musk has long targeted the ADL, previously threatening to sue the organization for its research documenting the rise of anti-Semitic content on social media platforms. However, the ADL and Greenblatt defended him earlier this year, but after other Jewish groups and lawmakers condemned Musk for a fascist-style salute following Donald Trump’s inauguration. The ADL referred to it as “an unfortunate gesture amid moments of enthusiasm.”

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Musk has consistently tweeted about the glossary’s ADL entries, including those related to Kirk’s TPUSA, labeling the ADL a “hate group” and insinuating that it incites murder. The TPUSA entry did not label the organization as extremist but included a list of its leadership and activists linked to extremists or who have made “racist or biased statements.”

On Wednesday, Musk continued to focus on the ADL, reiterating his classification of it as a “hate group.” He also aligned with another right-wing pressure effort, making a call to boycott Netflix due to a show featuring trans characters.

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Online Misinformation Surrounds La Ice Protest: ‘Fuel for Right-Wing Agitators'”

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Since the uproar surrounding the immigration attacks in Los Angeles began, a wave of inaccurate and misleading claims about ongoing protests has proliferated across text-based social networks. As Donald Trump significantly ramped up federal involvement, falsehoods shared on social media intertwined with misinformation propagated through channels established by the White House. This blend of genuine and deceptive information creates a distorted representation of a city that strays from the truth.

Various regions in Los Angeles have experienced substantial protests over the last four days in response to intensified immigration policies from the US presidential administration. Dramatic images circulated on Saturday from downtown Los Angeles depicted a car ablaze amid clashes with law enforcement. Many posts fostered the impression that chaos and violence engulfed the entirety of Los Angeles, despite the fact that disturbances remained limited to specific areas within the sprawling city. Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to the city without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has prompted the state to sue over this alleged infringement of sovereignty. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses has ordered approximately 700 Marines to be deployed to the city.


As misinformation proliferates amid both street-level and legal confrontations, the intersection of lies and conflict is evident. Social media often acts as a catalyst for the spread of falsehoods, a trend noted during recent wildfires in Los Angeles, catastrophic hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the most egregious disinformation is the circulation of a video featuring Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum by conservative Russian accounts, leading into the protests and inciting the demonstrations showcased on the Mexican flag, as reported by the misinformed Watchdog News Guard. These misleading posts — crafted by Benny Johnson on Twitter/X, referencing pro-Trump outlets like wltreport.com and Russian state media RG.RU — garnered millions of views, according to the organization. On June 9th, Sheinbaum stated to reporters:

Posts about bricks stir up a mixture of real and fake news

Conspiracy-minded conservatives are quick to latch onto familiar tropes. A post on X claimed that the “Soros Funding Organization” had garnered over 9,500 retweets regarding brick pallets near Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, racking up more than 800,000 views. George Soros remains a recurring figure in right-wing conspiracy narratives, with the post similarly implicating LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom in the supposed shortage of supplies.

I encountered a post that read, “It’s a civil war!!!”

The images of stacked bricks originate from a Malaysian construction supplier, and the myth that these bricks were distributed to protesters dates back to the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Users on X shared insights regarding the “Community Notes,” while X’s built-in AI chatbot Grok also provided fact-checks in response to inquiries about the authenticity of the post.


In response to the hoax imagery, some X users shared a link to Real footage showing protesters slamming concrete bollards, intertwining truths and falsehoods, and obscuring the reality of the situation. Independent journalists who showcased the footage claimed it depicted projectiles hurled at police, although the footage revealed no such actions.

The Social Media Lab, a research group at Toronto Metropolitan University, was referenced in Blueski.

Trump and the White House are covered in mud

Trump himself fueled narratives suggesting that the protests were orchestrated and dominated by external agitators lacking genuine concern for local issues.

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“These individuals are not protesters; they are troublemakers and anarchists,” Trump asserted on Truth Social, later screenshot and shared by Elon Musk on X. Others within the administration echoed similar sentiments on social media.

Los Angeles Times reporter noted that the White House claimed certain Mexican citizens had been arrested for assaulting an officer “during the riot.” However, it was established that customs and border protection agents had detained him prior to the protest’s commencement.

Sowing misleading information and fostering distrust

Trump has escalated the frequency of ICE raids nationwide, amplifying deportation fears throughout Los Angeles. Anti-ICE posts are also circulating misinformation, according to the Social Media Lab. One concerning post on Blueski, labeled “breaking,” alleged that a federal agent had just arrived at an LA elementary school seeking to interrogate first graders, when in reality, the incident occurred two months prior. Researchers have identified such posts as “Rage-Farming to Push Merch.”


The conspiracy platform Infowars has initiated a broadcast on X titled “Live Watch: LA ICE Riots Spread Across Major Cities Nationwide.” While protests against deportation have emerged in various locations, the level of confusion observed in Los Angeles is unmatched. The broadcast attracted 13,000 viewers simultaneously as X, a Los Angeles news service, aired coverage four nights after the immigration protest.

The spread of erroneous reporting undermines X’s credibility as a news platform, yet it continues to promote itself as the leading news application in the US, or more recently, in Qatar. Older images and videos are combined with new to instill doubts about legitimate news. After taking over Twitter in late 2022, Musk has endorsed user-generated fact-checking via the “Community Notes” feature, but has dismantled numerous internal avenues designed to counter misinformation. Particularly with the 2024 US presidential election approaching, researchers indicate that Musk himself has become a significant facilitator of misinformation, posting and resharing misleading claims that garnered around 2 billion views on numerous occasions. The Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk: The Evolution from Humanitarian to Right-Wing Meme Poster

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ohOtherwise, it would be news that the CEO of one of the world's largest companies endorsed and shared a fabricated headline published by the leader of a fascist party. For Elon Musk, that happened just Thursday.

Unusually for Musk, his post was a retweet of a tweet by Britain First co-leader Ashley Simon, who shared a fake Telegraph headline about British rioters being held in the Falkland Islands, which he deleted shortly after sending it. The 30-minute livestream on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022, garnered almost 2 million views.

Musk's outspoken criticism of the government has surprised many since unrest began across the UK last week, but it is just the latest sign that the billionaire is heading down a path of radicalisation.

After making his fortune in the dot-com boom and then from his involvement in PayPal, Musk invested in Tesla in 2004 and eventually became its chief executive. For a while, he presented himself as you'd expect of a former software executive running an electric car company, speaking at length about the risks of climate change while also launching and investing in projects that fit a broad vision of improving the future of humanity, including SpaceX, OpenAI and The Boring Company.

But starting in 2020, Musk's public profile began to shift. He'd always been a fairly active user of Twitter, but when the pandemic hit, he began posting much more frequently and for the first time faced the world of fact-checking, as soft-spoken claims about the danger and duration of the pandemic led to calls for his account to be suspended for spreading misinformation.

In his personal life, Musk's relationship with his family has been turbulent: His relationship with Claire Boucher, better known as the musician Grimes, began to fall apart in 2021. Boucher, mother of at least three of his 12 children, ended up in court over custody.

Around this time, Musk began sending Grimes “right-wing memes and conspiracy theories,” according to biographer Walter Isaacson, to which Grimes responded, “Is this from 4chan or something? You're really starting to sound like a far-right person.”

At the same time, his daughter Vivian She came out as transgender and changed her name.She declared that she no longer wanted to have “any kind of association with my biological father.”

Musk himself has cited Vivienne as the reason for his political switch, telling pop psychologist Jordan Peterson: [his] son [sic]essentially,” and concludes that his son was “killed by the virus of the awakened mind.”

“Many people who are radicalized have a formative personal experience that serves as a cognitive catalyst for their radicalization journey,” said one radicalization expert, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. “For Musk, it appears that was his daughter's gender transition.”

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The expert also believes Musk is essentially a man with “few beliefs beyond those that enrich him, and a strong desire for attention and validation. Since beginning his right-wing radicalization, he has received a flood of the latter from the far right, building for himself the largest echo chamber in the world that will only continue to grow.”

The expert added: “What's remarkable is that he experiences little to no consequences for his actions and is successful in blackmailing reality to make people comply with his beliefs.”

In July, Musk announced the creation of a political action committee, America PAC, which will “largely but entirely” support the Republican Party because it supports “meritocracy and individual freedom.” Musk did not say how much he planned to donate to the PAC, but previous reports had suggested he was considering donating as much as $45 million a month.

The extent of Musk's political transformation has even led to concerns about his health. In March, he He said he was not drunk “almost all the time.” He claimed that his use of ketamine to treat depression during his X posting sessions was unrelated to his social media presence.

Source: www.theguardian.com