‘Elon Don’t Really Like Black People’: Fans Call Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s ‘Verzuz’ Partnership With Elon Musk a ‘Spit In The Face’ Amid X CEO’s History of Alleged Racism
It was a mere three months ago that Elon Musk argued that the country should “move on” from its racist history, stating “we are all descended from slaves” on “The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon quickly corrected him).
During the painfully tense exchange, in which Musk criticized DEI policies and doubles-down on allowing hate speech on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he became increasingly irritated with Lemon. Though the former CNN anchor had just partnered with X, his deal was abruptly canceled after the interview.
Now, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have also cut a deal with the tech billionaire, and this move is raising eyebrows.
Swizz Beats and Timbaland face backlash for their Verzuz partnership with Elon Musk’s X platform. (Photos: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images; LISA O’CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images)
The legendary producers announced that their online series “Verzuz” — famous for its epic music battles during the pandemic — will be back bigger than ever thanks to an exclusive distribution partnership with X.
Earlier this year, the duo reacquired the platform from former partner Triller after a two year hiatus and now have full ownership and creative control. Through the X distribution deal, “Verzuz” estimates it will expand its audience to over 550 million viewers and reach international markets.
But many diehard fans of “Verzuz” — which started out as a pandemic-era experiment — are calling out Beatz and Timbaland for being tone-deaf by aligning with a man many consider racist.
The legendary rap producers announced the news during the Cannes Lions conference in France on June 19. To celebrate, they took to X and posted a photo of themselves clinking martini glasses with the world’s wealthiest man.
“It’s official, Verzuz is back and 100% Black owned again. Let’s give the people what’s been missing !!! We will also be building new entertainment businesses on the @X platform !! Who should be the 1st kick off show? Lets Go!!”
Despite the thrilling news, the partnership with the controversial tech mogul is causing a stir online. The timing of the announcement — on Juneteenth — couldn’t be worse. Fans of “Verzuz” are not feeling it, and they’re making their opinions known on X.
The irony was not lost on Swizz Beatz, who tweeted, “But your on X,” with the laugh-cry emoji.
“Yall did bad. For the community, for the brand, for yourselves. This is wack,” stated @TaqeeeBond.
“Elon don’t even like black ppl frfr why would you get him involved,” tweeted another. “Word up! They spit in the face of the culture on Juneteenth Announceming their new aparthate master,” added yet another outraged observer.
“Why they thought a racist Nazi would go over well with the public is beyond me. Another Elon fail,” someone quipped.
Sirius XM’s “Urban View,” home to radio host Reecie Colbert, noticed that people were bristling at the Elon Musk news and tweeted about it. Now, followers of the popular radio show are adding their voices to the chorus — on X.
“You are absolutely right Reecie! Why couldn’t they partner with Fanbase? It’s never about the collective; it’s always about their pockets!” exclaimed @vrpounds2, referencing a Black-owned social media app that’s ad-free and promises never to shadow ban or censor someone’s post without them knowing — a common complaint against X, particularly since Musk’s takeover in 2022.
Just one week after Musk purchased Twitter in 2022, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an independent non-profit research group, reported a rise in hate speech and racial slurs against Black people on X. Musk sued the civil rights group, nearly bankrupting them, but a federal judge threw out the case in March, deeming it baseless.
Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz’s official Instagram is blowing up with shocked and irate comments about the deal, and the accusations are flying, with some wondering if he and Timba are trolling the Black community.
“Are y’all trolling? Mr. ‘Black people need to get over slavery’ is the backer and distributor of the resurrected Verzuz? And y’all announce it on Juneteenth? Double yikes. If y’all wanted many Black people to withdraw interest in and support of Verzuz then you could have just said that. This is an epic failure,” wrote follower @shumecapickett.
Beatz has yet to respond to any comments. The “Verzuz” fans vs. Elon Musk battle continues.