TikTok bans account for Elon Musk documentary film

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 22:08 · Archive

TikTok has permanently suspended the social media account promoting Alex Gibney's documentary about Elon Musk. The distributor Bleecker Street was informed on Friday that the account had received a permanent suspension due to its political content, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The ban represents an escalation in platform resistance to the film. Last month, YouTube, Meta, X and TikTok all rejected advertisements for the documentary. YouTube and Google reversed course, calling it an error, but TikTok and X refused to allow paid promotions. A permanent account ban is a more severe action than merely rejecting ads.

The Verge notes that shortly before the account was removed, it posted that people should see the movie before it gets shut down. TikTok has no official affiliation with Elon Musk, though part owner Larry Ellison appears in the film via a text message offering to help Musk fund his Twitter purchase. The documentary opened in four theatres and is now rolling out more broadly, with plans to stream on HBO next year.

How it is being reported

• TikTok permanently bans ‘Musk’ documentary advertising accountA four-hour documentary about Elon Musk continues to meet resistance from social media platforms.TechCrunch · 17 Oct, 21:55
• TikTok bans Musk documentary accountJust ahead of the wider release of Alex Gibney's Musk documentary, TikTok has banned the film's social media account from its platform. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film's distributor, Bleecker Street, was informed Friday afternoon that a "permanent suspension" was imminent. Bleecker Street has […]The Verge · 17 Oct, 20:32

In this story: TikTok · Alex Gibney · Elon Musk · Bleecker Street · Larry Ellison · X

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