Elon Musk, the world's richest person and owner of the social media platform X, has been accused of amplifying far-right and racist content after promoting the film Citizen Vigilante, a movie described as far-right propaganda that glorifies vigilante violence against migrants. The film, directed by Uwe Boll, who has been called 'the world's worst director,' was dismissed by Variety as 'astonishingly bad,' 'incoherent,' and 'morally bankrupt.' Despite this, Musk shared the entire movie for free on X, retweeting accounts including the leader of Germany's far-right AfD party that endorsed its message.
Content and Controversy of Citizen Vigilante
The film's protagonist, played by Armie Hammer, is a US landlord who murders migrants and their families, including a Muslim family, in a campaign of extrajudicial executions. The movie contains dialogue suggesting migrants bring an 'archaic value system' and that European civilization is 'falling apart.' Germany's film ratings authority refused to classify the film, preventing its commercial release, citing incitement of violence against migrants. Musk's promotion of the film has drawn sharp criticism from commentators like Mehdi Hasan, who wrote in The Guardian that Musk is 'starting a fire, not a debate.'
Musk's Pattern of Amplifying Far-Right Content
This is not an isolated incident. According to a report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Musk's posts about a stabbing in Northern Ireland and subsequent anti-immigrant riots, including quote-tweeting far-right activist Tommy Robinson, obtained more than 64 million views. Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's first minister, slammed 'the Elon Musks of this world' for 'orchestrating hate and tension.' Critics argue that Musk's actions legitimize anti-migrant rhetoric and have real-world consequences, linking online hate to attacks from Christchurch to Buffalo.
Double Standards in Media Coverage
Hasan notes that major US outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN have not covered Musk's promotion of Citizen Vigilante, suggesting a double standard. He contrasts the lack of outrage with the hypothetical scenario of a prominent Muslim promoting a film celebrating violence against white Europeans, which would likely trigger widespread condemnation. Musk, who has described himself as a 'centrist' and 'free speech advocate,' is accused of using his platform to reward far-right and racist content while avoiding accountability.
