Sources close to Musk indicate that the decision was driven by a series of recent posts from the actor, in which he criticized Musk’s approach to content moderation on X. De Niro accused Musk of fostering harmful narratives under the pretense of free speech. Though his remarks were not overtly inflammatory, they still caught Musk’s attention, who saw them as a direct challenge to his leadership.
True to form, Musk reportedly fired back with a tweet: *”X is a platform for free thought, not a stage for woke agendas masquerading as activism. With all due respect, Robert De Niro has crossed the line.”* Shortly after, De Niro’s account was allegedly removed, igniting backlash from his supporters.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s handling of X’s moderation policies has been an ongoing debate. Since acquiring the platform, Musk has positioned himself as a champion of free speech, rolling back previous restrictions and reinstating accounts that had been banned under prior leadership. Critics argue that this shift has allowed misinformation and extremism to flourish, while supporters applaud Musk for resisting censorship and restoring open dialogue.
De Niro, a vocal critic of conservative politics and an outspoken Trump opponent, has never shied away from making his political views known. His latest remarks about Musk align with his history of calling out figures he deems responsible for enabling dangerous rhetoric. However, his apparent removal from X raises questions about whether Musk’s definition of free speech applies equally to all users or if criticism of his leadership is an exception.
This latest move has sparked intense debate across social media, with some hailing Musk’s decision as necessary to curb divisive rhetoric, while others see it as a blatant act of silencing dissent. As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the clash between free expression and content regulation remains a hot-button issue.