The key facts

  • TikTok banned the ad account of the film 'Musk' over political content
  • Meta and YouTube previously rejected the ad but later allowed it; X refused to run it
  • The film opened in four theaters and will premiere on HBO in 2027

Account ban

The documentary 'Musk' about Elon Musk continues to face resistance from social platforms. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the film's distributor Bleecker Street received a notification from TikTok about a 'permanent ban' of its ad account due to political content. TechCrunch reached out to TikTok for comment.

Ad issues on other platforms

The ad for the trailer of 'Musk' — a film by Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney — was initially rejected by Meta and YouTube as well, but those platforms subsequently allowed it to run, and Meta attributed the refusal to an 'error'. Gibney confirmed that international distributor Universal wavered on the film's release plans, but promotion is now continuing.

Context and theatrical run

X, owned by Musk, refused to run the film's ad. It is noted that TikTok's US operations are partially owned by Larry Ellison, who, like Musk, is a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump. 'Musk' opened last weekend in just four theaters and is now expanding to a wider release. Next year, the film is set to appear on HBO's streaming service — a platform that is part of Paramount/Skydance and is led by Ellison's son David.