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

Immediately, former TV persona Don Lemon has introduced that X (previously Twitter) has canceled his media cope with him and his workforce, through which Lemon was set to convey his speak present to X as an unique.

Clearly, the implication, on this be aware at the least, 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 concerning the worth of free speech, particularly from these whom you disagree with.

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

“Free speech is meaningless until you enable individuals you do not wish to say issues you do not like.” 

Evidently, Musk is much less inclined to help 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] strategy 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 true Don Lemon, it was actually simply Jeff Zucker speaking via Don, so lacked authenticity.”

I don’t know, it looks as if 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 concerning 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 a much 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 just lately 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 onerous 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 individuals watching extra of its video content material in vertical format, and on their TV screens, with X additionally just lately revamping its TV playback characteristic, to allow extra lean-back viewing.

However with out the content material to eat, it looks as if 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 other.

For instance:

• In December 2022, Musk banned varied journalists from The New York Instances, The Washington Submit and others, after accusing them of “doxxing” him. Within the continuing months, X has continued to ban or prohibit journalists and/or publications that Musk has been essential of.  
• After touting his expansive help of free speech, to the extent of even permitting an account that shares data on the actions of his non-public jet to stay lively within the app, Musk then banned that very account simply weeks later.
• Musk made a private determination to keep up a ban of Alex Jones’ account that was carried out by Twitter administration, attributable to Jones’ controversial feedback concerning the Sandy Hook mass taking pictures. Musk then reneged on that stance late final yr.
• Early final yr, 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.
• Numerous 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 drawback with have discovered themselves restricted by X, typically with out clarification. Which is opposite to Musk’s acknowledged strategy, 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 frequently reply to any criticism of Musk with “you simply hate free speech”.

Sure. That’s what it’s.

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

As a result of basically, Musk is saying that you may 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.