The National Football League (NFL) continues its association with X, formerly known as Twitter, despite the platform, now led by Elon Musk, facing an advertiser revolt due to concerns over hate speech and antisemitism.
Brian Rolapp, the NFL’s media and business chief, acknowledged the challenges posed by content moderation on X but emphasized the league’s commitment, stating that they persist with the platform because their fanbase is actively present. The NFL has been in partnership with X since 2013, aiming to provide fans with exclusive content.
Under Elon Musk’s leadership since last fall, X has been embroiled in various controversies, particularly related to its content moderation policies. This has led to a recent backlash, with major companies like Apple and Disney suspending advertising on the platform. Musk himself drew criticism when he endorsed a post accusing “Jewish communities” of promoting “hatred against whites,” although he denied being antisemitic.
Additionally, left-leaning media watchdog MediaMatters.org revealed instances of ads from Apple, Bravo, and Oracle appearing alongside antisemitic content on X. In response, X filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, coinciding with an investigation initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into potential fraudulent activity by the watchdog site.
Furthermore, over two dozen House Democrats accused X of profiting from violent Hamas-related content. They called on X CEO Linda Yaccarino to clarify the company’s plans for addressing harmful content on the platform. Hamas, identified as a Palestinian militant group, carried out a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in over 1,000 casualties and the seizure of more than 200 hostages.