Ads for Alex Gibney’s Musk documentary blocked on social platforms

A controversy has erupted over Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney’s four-hour documentary “Musk,” which examines the life of Elon Musk. The film’s distributor, Bleecker Street, initially failed to secure approval to run the promotional trailer as a paid advertisement on YouTube, Meta, TikTok and X.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets.

According to the reports, YouTube, Meta and TikTok classified the advertisement as political content and refused to run it. X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, did not respond to the request.

Following the backlash, YouTube and Meta were forced to reverse course:

• YouTube: The platform said the advertisement had been automatically and temporarily restricted after being uploaded to its system, but was cleared for release following an internal review.
• Meta: The company said the ads had been rejected “by mistake” for technical reasons and allowed them to run again.
• TikTok and X: TikTok upheld its decision because it has a blanket ban on political advertising. X has maintained its silence.

The documentary examines Musk’s achievements in business and technology, as well as his growing influence in US politics. His significant financial support for Donald Trump during the 2024 election, his subsequent leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and his departure from the post form the film’s central themes.

The film includes personal interviews with the billionaire’s former wife, Justine Musk, and other prominent figures. The documentary “Musk,” which received strong reviews from critics at the Venice Film Festival, is scheduled to open in US cinemas on Oct. 9.