On the other hand, critics were quick to point out Musk’s blatant disregard for journalistic integrity and fairness. “Elon Musk thinks he can take down a major media network because he doesn’t like how a debate was moderated? Please,” one commentator quipped. “This is just another billionaire trying to control the narrative.”
ABC, of course, was not amused. In a statement released shortly after Musk’s tweetstorm, a network spokesperson called Musk’s boycott call “reckless and baseless,” arguing that the moderators did their best to keep the debate on track and factual. “We stand by our moderators and the job they did in providing a fair and balanced debate,” the statement read. “ABC has always been committed to journalistic integrity and will not be swayed by pressure from outside forces.”
Disney, which owns ABC, has remained silent on the matter, though rumors are circulating that the company’s executives are now considering the PR ramifications of Musk’s boycott campaign.
Never one to pass up an opportunity to go big (or to space), Musk didn’t stop with his calls for a boycott. In a subsequent series of tweets, Musk floated the idea of hosting future debates on Mars. “Maybe it’s time we take politics off Earth,” Musk joked. “Imagine the candidates debating inside a SpaceX Starship on their way to colonize Mars. No biased moderators—just zero gravity and the future of humanity at stake.”
