In an unexpected and controversial decision, Elon Musk, executive director of the Social Network Platform X (previously Twitter), announced that the renowned actor Robert De Niro has been permanently vetoed from the platform. Musk cited De Niro’s “progressive presence” as the main reason for the decision, which unleashed an intense online debate.
The decision was made public in a publication of Musk himself, where he declared: «In X, we encourage open debates, not spaces for unilateral and politically loaded narratives. Robert De Niro’s constant rhetoric contradicts this mission. There is no place for its progressive presence on this platform ».
De Niro, known for his open political opinions and his frequent criticism of conservative figures, has openly expressed his opposition to the Musk management style and his position on freedom of expression. During the last year, their publications in X have included harsh criticism of Musk policies, accusing it of facilitating misinformation and promoting divisive ideologies.
However, Musk’s position has been to position X as a bastion of freedom of expression, often allowing controversial figures to share their opinions. However, his decision to veto De Niro has raised doubts about the coherence of this principle. Critics argue that the prohibition shows a double standard in Musk’s policies, while their supporters believe it was necessary to maintain the integrity of the platform.
The prohibition has divided public opinion. Musk’s supporters applauded the measure, claiming that it was necessary to stop Hollywood’s progressive influence on social discourse. A popular hashtag emerged, #Goodbyedeniro, and users celebrated Musk’s decision to stand firm against what they describe as “elitist arrogance.”
On the other hand, De Niro fans and defenders of freedom of expression have denounced action as censorship. Prominent Hollywood figures and politics have manifested themselves in support of the actor, and some have asked for a boycott of X.
Several actors and directors have come out in Defense of De Niro. In a joint statement, they emphasized the importance of platforms such as X to provide space for various points of view, even if they question popular narratives. “This action feels a dangerous precedent,” said actor Mark Ruffalo. “If a platform claims to support freedom of expression, it cannot arbitrarily silence the voices with which you do not agree.”
The incident has revived the debate on the role of social media platforms in content regulation and public figures management. For Musk, this raises greater scrutiny about his leadership style and his vision of X as an open dialogue space.
It remains to be seen if this measure will attract or repel users. While some consider Musk’s decision a bold leadership, others see it as an alarming change towards the authoritarian control of speech on the platform.
As for De Niro, the actor has not yet made any public statement about his prohibition. However, close to him suggest that he could use this incident to amplify his criticisms of Musk policies in other public forums.
This controversy underlines the complex challenges of balancing freedom of expression with the moderation of content in the era of social networks, and places the X of Musk in the center of an even more complex controversy.
