Elon Musk appears visibly

In resurfaced footage, Elon Musk clashed with BBC journalist James Clayton during an interview about hate speech and free speech on X (formerly Twitter). Musk argued that true free speech must include voices people disagree with, while Clayton raised concerns about rising hateful content on the platform since Musk’s takeover. However, when asked for specific examples, Clayton admitted he didn’t have any at the time, prompting Musk to accuse him of lying and spreading false claims.

The exchange grew tense as Musk questioned what constituted hateful content, challenging Clayton’s vague description of “slightly sexist” or “slightly racist” posts. When Clayton said he no longer used X’s “for you” tab, Musk expressed frustration over the lack of evidence to support the journalist’s claims. The conversation eventually shifted when Musk criticized the BBC’s reporting on mask mandates and vaccine side effects, but Clayton distanced himself from the organization’s editorial policies. The interview highlighted Musk’s defensive stance over his leadership of the platform.