Elon Musk At the Midst of Satirical Political Ads
Elon Musk has been trending recently and not for the right reasons. Whether it is his “accidental” Nazi salute or his blind support for the 47th POTUS Donald Trump, it seems as if he is in no mood to stop. But that’s not all, he has also been at the centre of multiple anti-billionaire campaigns. Let’s take a look at them.
Meme Activism Against Elon Musk
Musk’s backing of conservative right-wing parties and candidates throughout Europe, including meddling in the political affairs of the UK, Germany, and other EU countries, has attracted criticism from various sectors. A controversial advertisement in London has targeted Tesla, featuring a Nazi reference. The controversy traces back to Elon Musk’s Twitter recent controversial actions and statements on social media.
Courtesy – Latin Times
Activists have taken to creative methods of denouncing the billionaire bully, leading to the emergence of a “creative” advertisement in London. The advertisement features the tagline, “Goes from 0 to 1939 in just 3 seconds.” Positioned above is a photo of Musk performing a Nazi salute from inside a Tesla vehicle. The advertisement displays “Tesla” in the brand’s standard font, followed by “The Swasticar.”
This is in response to Musk’s outright support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) far-right party. He even authored an opinion piece for Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Another group, named ‘Everyone Hates Elon’ shared a post on TikTok, which features an individual in a yellow safety vest replacing a bus advertisement with a Tesla parody ad. The group had also affixed “Don’t buy a Swasticar” stickers, onto Tesla cars throughout London.
Musk’s Supporters at His Defense
Elon Musk’s supporters claimed it was merely an affectionate gesture towards his fans; nevertheless, Musk never clearly rejected the accusations, even as neo-Nazi groups expressed their enthusiasm. Instead, he was backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the beloved troublemaker (Kan)Ye West.
Winston Tseng’s Anti-Capitalist Advertising
Street artist Winston Tseng also created an anti-Elon Musk advertisement in sidewalk advertising spaces near the White House. The ad is unofficially credited to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It states “Help Eliminate Elon” and included a large red cross mark over Musk performing a Nazi salute.
Winston Tseng’s Remarks Spark A Debate From North Carolina Senator
“In the spirit of transparency, I should disclose that USAID paid me $69M (in condoms) for this ad,” Tseng remarked in an email written to Hyperallergic, referencing Musk’s misinterpretation of U.S. funding for global HIV prevention and treatment.
Courtesy – Winston
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who posted a video of himself in front of the fake ad criticized it for “targeting individuals” and declaring “it better not be funded by [USAID] or endorsed by them!” The comment section was flooded, leaving users worried for Musk’s safety, and calling for legal action. Comments said that the ad was “wasting our money.”
One of the popular Asian American artists, Tseng is known to parody advertising campaigns and wheatpastings that critique current events and social issues. Thus far, he has humorously decimated luxury brands, religious institutions, sports teams, Netflix, Airbnb, BlueSky, McDonald’s, PornHub, Planned Parenthood, Target, and even Sesame Street.
Image – Fake Tesla Swasticar Ad Anti-Elon Musk. Courtesy – DesignTAXI Community
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