In a shocking move that has rocked the media world, tech mogul and Twitter extraordinaire Elon Musk has officially pulled his $1 billion show from CBS. After what Musk called an “extremely biased” vice president debate hosted by the network, the billionaire decided it was time to cut ties, calling CBS “the most unwatchable, agenda-driven network out there.” Musk didn’t mince words when he declared, “CBS is finished.”
Musk, who has never been shy about voicing his opinions (especially on Twitter, where he appears to be living rent-free), wasted no time after the debate announcing his decision. The CBS-hosted debate between Republican candidate J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz was already under scrutiny for its controversial moderation. However, Musk’s reaction took things to a whole new level, with the world’s richest man vowing that CBS would “never see another dime of his money again.”
For those unaware, Musk’s CBS show, a highly anticipated if mysterious venture, was rumored to be one of the most expensive TV projects in the works. Some said it would be a sci-fi docuseries in which Musk personally teaches aliens how to code. Others speculated it would be a reality show about life on Mars, hosted from SpaceX’s private shuttle. But alas, none of us will know now, because, as Musk said, “CBS doesn’t deserve to show anything remotely interesting.”
In true Elon style, Musk took to Twitter to make the announcement. “After watching that CBS debate, it’s clear they’ve forgotten what journalism is. Extremely biased is an understatement. No wonder they’re losing advertisers faster than a Tesla in Ludicrous mode.”
Within minutes of his post, the hashtag #CBSToast was trending, with Musk fans (and CBS critics) flocking to him. Memes featuring toast and melted butter on the CBS logo flooded social media. One particularly viral tweet read, “If Elon says CBS is toast, I guess I’ll have to switch to waffles.”
The debate in question was already under fire before Musk stepped in. Moderated by CBS, it quickly devolved into what critics called a “fact-checking frenzy,” with J.D. Vance interrupted more times than a child in a toy store. The Vance camp accused the moderators of bias, claiming they had it in for the Republican nominee from the start. And while Tim Walz got his fair share of fact-checking, it seemed like Vance was in the crosshairs for most of the evening.
Enter Elon Musk, who, like many of his Twitter followers, was watching the debate in horror, or so he claimed. Musk reportedly texted several high-profile friends during the debate, asking if they were witnessing what he called “the death of impartial journalism.”
“Watching CBS tonight was like watching a sinking ship,” Musk said during an impromptu live stream with his loyal fanbase. “They spent more time fact-checking J.D. than letting him talk. How is anyone supposed to hear actual policies when all we hear are corrections?”
He added, “And don’t even get me started on the moderators’ smug looks every time they ‘corrected’ Vance. It was like watching a high school debate where one kid’s dad was the judge.”
The straw that broke the camel’s back came when the moderators fact-checked Vance’s claim about Trump-era tax cuts, cutting him off mid-sentence to clarify numbers. Musk was reportedly livid, muttering to himself, “That’s it, CBS is done.”
CBS executives, caught off guard by Musk’s public denouncement, scrambled to respond. In an official statement, the network brushed off Musk’s claims of bias as “unfounded” and “exaggerated,” stating, “Our moderators were simply doing their job to ensure factual accuracy. We value our viewers and stand by our commitment to honest journalism.”
But Musk wasn’t having it. In a follow-up tweet, he posted, “CBS just called me ‘exaggerated.’ That’s rich coming from the network that thought adding a laugh track to their own news show was a good idea.”
This was a clear reference to CBS’s recent attempt at revamping their prime-time news segment, a strategy that involved awkwardly placed laugh tracks whenever politicians made absurd claims. Let’s just say it didn’t go over well with viewers, and Musk, apparently, never forgot.
As if the loss of Musk’s billion-dollar show wasn’t bad enough, CBS also had to contend with the aftermath of his boycott. Within 24 hours of his announcement, several more advertisers publicly distanced themselves from the network. Ford, Pepsi, and Geico were among the brands that decided they’d rather keep their ads far away from CBS’s “biassed debates and Musk-sized controversy.”
“It’s a tough call,” said a marketing executive from one of the major brands who wished to remain anonymous. “But let’s be honest: Elon Musk has more Twitter followers than CBS has viewers on a good night. You’ve got to go where the eyeballs are.”
It wasn’t just advertisers either. Some CBS affiliates reportedly contacted the network, expressing concern over the long-term effects of Musk’s pullout. “If Musk is out, who’s next?” one affiliate exec asked. “We can’t afford to lose more high-profile projects because of biased debates.”
So, what’s next for Elon Musk’s $1 billion show? According to sources close to Musk, the show will not be scrapped but rather moved to a different network or platform that “appreciates balanced journalism.” Musk is reportedly in talks with Netflix and even floated the idea of hosting the show on his own platform—yes, you guessed it—Twitter.
“I could air it on Mars, and more people would tune in than on CBS,” Musk quipped in a recent interview. “I’m not worried. We’ll find a new home.”
As for CBS, the network is still trying to put out the fires sparked by Musk’s boycott. It remains to be seen whether they will recover, but one thing is for sure: losing a $1 billion show and the richest man in the world is not a good look for any network.
Meanwhile, Musk seems to be reveling in the chaos. He recently tweeted: “First CBS, then the moon. Just kidding. Or not?”
And as always, with Musk, it’s hard to tell.