Linda Yaccarino’s memo to X staff after Elon Musk’s fiery interview

December 1, 2023

Loyal X chief Linda Yaccarino sent a memo to staffers defending Elon Musk in the wake of his profanity-laced interview — where he told advertisers boycotting his platform to “go f–k yourself” — calling his on-stage commentary “candid” and “profound.”

“He shared an unmatched and completely unvarnished perspective and vision for the future,” Yaccarino told the social media site’s workforce in the memo titled “Proud to be at X with YOU!”

She encouraged staffers to watch the 90-minute interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday to “take the time to absorb the magnitude and importance of what we’re all a part of,” according to CNBC.

Yaccarino went on to address advertisers by saying X’s “principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised — ever.”

“And no matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don’t understand our mission,” she added, per CNBC.

Thursday’s memo to staff was Yaccarino’s second attempt at damage control after addressing the public in a tweet where she backed her billionaire boss.

She described Musk’s performance as a “wide-ranging and candid interview” during which he had “offered an apology, an explanation, and an explicit point of view about our position.”

“X is enabling an information independence that’s uncomfortable for some people,” Yaccarino said. “We’re a platform that allows people to make their own decisions.”

“And here’s my perspective when it comes to advertising: X is standing at a unique and amazing intersection of Free Speech and Main Street — and the X community is powerful and is here to welcome you,” she added.

Yaccarino, the former ad chief at media giant NBCUniversal, moved swiftly after Andrew Sorkin’s interview with the Tesla and SpaceX boss, which descended into a foul-mouthed tirade when Musk was asked about Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and other blue-chip companies’ decisions to stop advertising on X.

“I hope they stop. Don’t advertise,” Musk told a perplexed Sorkin. “If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f–k yourself. Go f–k yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.”

“Hey Bob, if you’re in the audience,” Musk added in a reference to Disney CEO Bob Iger, whose company was among those that yanked ad dollars.

As Musk doubled down on his bold stance, Sorkin pointed out that Yaccarino, who was in attendance, was primarily hired as X CEO to mend the company’s fractured relationships and sell ads.

Musk didn’t address Yaccarino, and instead admitted that a long-term advertising boycott was “going to kill the company.”

Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion last year, shocked attendees with the attack, especially after earlier apologizing for posting the very tweet that caused advertisers to exit.

The post, which saw Musk endorsing an antisemitic tweet that claimed Jewish communities promote “hatred against whites,” sparked a flurry of backlash and even drew the condemnation of the White House for his “abhorrent promotion” of a “hideous lie” that claimed that Jews supported “hordes of minorities” immigrating to the US.

Just weeks following the post, Musk visited Israel to accompany Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a tour of Kfar Aza, where dozens of Israelis were killed and many others kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.

Sorkin on Wednesday pressed Musk to respond to the public perception that his recent trip to Israel was part of an “apology tour.”

Musk reiterated that he is not antisemitic, and insisted that the Israel trip was planned before his “foolish” post to X.

Representatives for Yaccarino at X did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Here’s Yaccarino’s full memo to X staffers following Musk’s interview at the DealBook Summit, per CNBC:

Proud to be at X with YOU!

Hi all,

Yesterday I posted this about DealBook and the X community has been quite lit up today on the same topic. Elon’s interview was candid and profound. He shared an unmatched and completely unvarnished perspective and vision for the future. If you haven’t watched it, please take the time to absorb the magnitude and importance of what we’re all a part of. Because that’s exactly what I wanted to focus on with you today.

We’re at one of the most maverick companies in the world and we get to do things that have never been done before. X sits in a one-of-a-kind constellation of companies that are changing the world — from helping to conserve the planet through Tesla’s electric vehicles, to exploring new planets with SpaceX, to the seamless global connectivity of Starlink, to the potential of transforming lives with Neuralink, to responsibly reimagining the benefits of AGI through xAI.

You’re at X because you have the courage and conviction to build and operationalize the most consequential platform that exists. That’s quite an enviable position to be in.

Our mission at X is bold: to be an open platform without censorship of thought – one that provides people information and the freedom to make up their own minds. Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised — ever. And no matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don’t understand our mission.

I’m immensely proud to lead this company — with the passionate people and partners of the X community and most fortunately with all of YOU.

As always, if you need me — I’m here.

Linda