Meta reverses ad ban for Musk documentary
Original: Meta says it will run ads for ‘Musk’ documentary after all
Why This Matters
Platform ad policies are now a front line in battles over politically sensitive media coverage.
Meta has reversed its decision to block ads for Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk,' calling the original rejection 'an error.' The film, which has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and premieres in U.S. theaters October 9, had also been rejected by TikTok, YouTube, and X on grounds of 'political content.'
Meta confirmed Saturday that it will run paid ads promoting the trailer for director Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk,' reversing a rejection first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. A Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch: 'This was an error and the ads are being restored.' The Hollywood Reporter had reported that TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and X all refused to carry the ads, citing 'political content' policies. X's refusal is the least surprising — Musk owns the platform and recently posted that 'Dogshit is worth more respect than Gibney.' The film's U.S. distributor, Bleecker Street, said it is appealing the remaining rejections from TikTok and YouTube. Gibney, known for 'Going Clear' and 'The Inventor,' premiered 'Musk' at the Venice International Film Festival this month to near-universal praise. The nearly four-hour film examines Musk's tech career, his alliance with President Donald Trump, and his personal life — including interviews with ex-wife Justine Musk and former right-wing influencer Ashley St. Clair, who calls Musk 'a nuke.' Separately, Universal Pictures, which was set to distribute the film internationally, reportedly wavered due to concerns about antagonizing the Trump administration, though Universal has since confirmed it will handle theatrical distribution.