Platforms Reject Ads for Musk

A documentary that questions Elon Musk's influence is running into a wall. Bleecker Street, the distributor of Alex Gibney's four-hour film Musk, said it has been blocked from buying trailer ads on YouTube, TikTok, Meta's platforms (Facebook and Instagram), and X, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Meta and TikTok cited rules on political content, though the trailer reportedly includes only a brief shot of a 2024 rally and a reference to the election—material common in documentaries and not overtly backing a candidate. On Saturday, Meta, which had earlier denied an appeal, told Mediaite the rejection was all a mistake. "The ads are being restored," a spokesperson said.

YouTube's rationale is murkier than some sites'; it does accept campaign ads with disclosures. Appeals have been filed with TikTok and YouTube. X has declined to engage and won't take ads for any upcoming Bleecker Street films. Social platforms already face scrutiny over their power to shape public discourse—an issue the film explores in examining how Musk, who bought X in 2022 and speaks of the importance of free speech to democracy, wields control over online conversation. He's called the film a "hit piece" and threatened to sue Gibney. Musk opens in US theaters Oct. 9.