Elon Musk Buying ABC to Take away 'Wokeness' From Community?

In mid-October 2024, a post (archived) on Fb web page SpaceX Fanclub claimed Tesla proprietor Elon Musk was planning to amass ABC to take away “wokeness” from the community and would hearth its presidential debate moderators “instantly.”

The submit was shared lots of of instances and had amassed greater than 6,000 reactions as of this writing.

(Fb consumer “SpaceX Fanclub”)

Many customers within the feedback appeared to imagine the rumor was actual, with one particular person writing: “Good! Mr Elon Musk, sure eliminate them.”

Nonetheless, the declare was not true. It originated from a web page that’s satirical in nature. SpaceX Fanclub’s Fb intro stated: “We submit SATIRE, nothing on this web page is actual.” The above submit additionally included a “RATED SATIRE” label within the high left.

SpaceX Fanclub shared an accompanying article within the feedback part, which confirmed the declare originated from satirical web site Esspots. The article stated:

In a transfer that has shocked media insiders and despatched Twitter right into a frenzy, Elon Musk is reportedly contemplating shopping for ABC, with one clear mission: to “set issues straight.” And in typical Musk style, his first order of enterprise can be firing longtime ABC anchor David Muir, the face of World Information Tonight. The choice, it appears, stems from Muir’s function within the controversial presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the place Musk claims Muir “crossed the road” together with his moderation ways.

“ABC is damaged. Journalism is damaged. And who higher to repair it than me?” Musk reportedly informed shut associates in a personal dialog. “David Muir is just the start. ABC wants a reboot, and I am able to hit the reset button.”

Esspots described its output as being humorous or satirical in nature, and a part of the identical community because the SpaceX Fanclub Fb web page. Esspots’ “About Us” web page said:

Welcome to the US web page of Esspots (A Subsidiary of SpaceXMania.com specializing in Satire and Parody Information), your one-stop vacation spot for satirical information and commentary about america of America. Our staff of writers and editors is devoted to bringing you the most recent and biggest in faux information and absurdity, all with a wholesome dose of humor and satire.

Likewise, its disclaimer web page said:

Earlier than you proceed to learn our content material, we want to emphasize that nothing on this web site is actual. All the articles, tales, and commentary discovered on Esspots.com are solely fictitious and created for the aim of leisure solely.

We perceive that satire can typically be mistaken for precise information or occasions, however we wish to make it clear that we don’t publish factual or correct info. We don’t intend to deceive or mislead our readers in any method, and all of our content material must be taken with a grain of salt.

There have been additionally no examples of any respected information retailers reporting that Musk was planning to purchase ABC. If this was true, it will be eminently newsworthy.

The fictional story unfold as Musk continued to support former U.S. President Donald Trump within the 2024 presidential election. 

Snopes has addressed related claims about Musk and ABC earlier than, together with the rumor the tech billionaire sued Whoopi Goldberg and “The View,” that he deliberate to purchase ABC with a view to cancel “The View” and that he purchased ABC and fired the forged of “The View.”

For background, right here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that decision their output humorous or satirical.

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