Billionaire Elon Musk faces intense scrutiny after a gesture made during U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday, which many interpreted as a Nazi salute. Social media users and organizations are rapidly distancing themselves from X, Musk’s platform, with Reddit groups banning X links in protest.
A Calgary Flames fan subreddit enacted an immediate ban, citing Musk’s actions as incompatible with community values. Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets subreddits followed suit, condemning any association with Nazism. Across Reddit, over 100 groups have banned X links, with Canadian and global organizations joining the exodus.
The controversy stems from Musk’s speech at the Capital One Arena, where he extended his arm upward in a gesture likened to a Nazi salute. Critics and extremists alike weighed in, with Musk dismissing accusations as overreactions. Yet, watchdogs and former platform users criticize X as increasingly toxic under Musk’s ownership.
In France, over 80 organizations, including universities and newspapers, abandoned X, accusing Musk of aligning the platform with libertarianism and far-right ideologies. Meanwhile, right-wing groups celebrated Musk’s gesture, further intensifying the backlash.
Musk’s representative denied any fascist intent, attributing the gesture to his autism. Still, the controversy highlights growing concerns over Musk’s leadership and its impact on social platforms.
Source: Swifteradio.com
