For any individual who makes a lot noise about “free speech”, Elon Musk actually appears very eager to quash the voices of these he disagrees with.

Right this moment, former TV character Don Lemon has introduced that X (previously Twitter) has canceled his media cope with him and his staff, during which Lemon was set to carry his speak present to X as an unique.

Clearly, the implication, on this word no less than, is that X has made the choice based mostly on who he’s, although Lemon has additionally acknowledged that Musk merely didn’t just like the questions that he requested Elon of their current sit-down interview, which, as Lemon notes, was to be the primary episode of the brand new X present.

Some have steered that Lemon had requested Musk about his rumored drug use, which is what angered Musk to the purpose of canceling the deal. And once more, that is the man who retains telling us in regards to the worth of free speech, particularly from these whom you disagree with.

Certainly, in an interview with the BBC final 12 months, Musk reiterated that:

“Free speech is meaningless except you permit folks you do not prefer to say issues you do not like.” 

Evidently, Musk is much less inclined to assist that ethos on his personal platform, although X has additionally famous that Lemon is free to proceed publishing his content material within the app:

So there’s that.

For his half, Musk says that he determined to cancel Lemon’s deal as a result of:

“[Lemon’s] method was mainly simply “CNN, however on social media”, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the truth that CNN is dying. And, as a substitute of it being the actual Don Lemon, it was actually simply Jeff Zucker speaking by means of Don, so lacked authenticity.”

I don’t know, it looks like a really contradictory transfer, whereas it’s additionally one other blow for X’s new “video first platform” push, which was being touted by its CEO simply yesterday.

That’s not precisely going superior.

Of X’s authentic slate of TV-like content material:

• Tucker Carlson is constructing his personal subscription providing, exterior of X, whereas nonetheless posting to the app. There have additionally been questions in regards to the precise viewership of his program on X.
• Paris Hilton’s cope with X appears unsure after Hilton’s firm scaled again its X advert spend. There’s been no official announcement, or content material produced, on this entrance as but.
• YouTube star MrBeast questioned the validity of X’s monetization program after his first video made $250k in per week. He’s since uploaded solely three extra clips to X over the previous eight weeks, which may counsel that he hasn’t been capable of replicate that preliminary success.

So whereas X is eager to speak up its video potential, on the trail to creating video an even bigger focus, issues don’t appear to be going nice for the initiative at this stage.

X does nonetheless have content material offers with Jim Rome and Tulsi Gabbard, whereas it’s additionally not too long ago signed new content material partnerships with the WWE and The Massive 3 basketball league.

Although then once more, exterior of the WWE, these are nonetheless pretty area of interest choices, and it’s arduous to see how X will go in translating that into extra mainstream success, if it might’t signal some main names to its platform.

X is eager to get extra folks watching extra of its video content material in vertical format, and on their TV screens, with X additionally not too long ago revamping its TV playback function, to allow extra lean-back viewing.

However with out the content material to devour, it looks like an unsure push, whereas it additionally, as soon as once more, underlines Musk’s personal penchant for censorship, regardless of publicly and repeatedly touting the alternative.

For instance:

• In December 2022, Musk banned varied journalists from The New York Instances, The Washington Put up and others, after accusing them of “doxxing” him. Within the continuing months, X has continued to ban or limit journalists and/or publications that Musk has been essential of.  
• After touting his expansive assist of free speech, to the extent of even permitting an account that shares data on the actions of his personal jet to stay lively within the app, Musk then banned that very account simply weeks later.
• Musk made a private choice to take care of a ban of Alex Jones’ account that was carried out by Twitter administration, attributable to Jones’ controversial feedback in regards to the Sandy Hook mass taking pictures. Musk then reneged on that stance late final 12 months.
• Early final 12 months, X censored a BBC documentary that was essential of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the request of the Indian Authorities. Musk says that that is an instance of X aligning with native legal guidelines, however many have criticized the platform for bowing to censorship calls for, particularly after earlier Twitter administration pushed again on the identical.
• Varied Tesla critics have both been banned from X, or had their posts restricted within the app.

Principally, lots of people and/or publications that Musk has had a private downside with have discovered themselves restricted by X, usually with out clarification. Which is opposite to Musk’s acknowledged method, and but his military of supporters will nonetheless undoubtedly come to his protection, and reiterate no matter logic that Musk communicates.

Although it’s humorous that those self same defenders repeatedly reply to any criticism of Musk with “you simply hate free speech”.

Sure. That’s what it’s.

It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how this impacts Musk’s broader video content material push, and whether or not it influences who indicators offers with the app shifting ahead.

As a result of primarily, Musk is saying that you could say what you need on X, as long as I agree.

Looks like tenuous floor for any creator trying to construct their media enterprise within the app.