Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has faced a multitude of claims and rumors about his potential acquisitions of various companies and startups. Recently, a claim that he purchased the ABC broadcasting network gained significant traction across social media, leading to widespread shares, reactions, and discussions among users. However, after conducting a thorough investigation, we have determined that this assertion is false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A recent viral social media claim stated that Elon Musk purchased the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) media network and appointed American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson as the new CEO, hoping for the end of woke media.
The claim has captured considerable attention on social media, prompting numerous reactions and comments from users. Many people have engaged with it, sharing their thoughts and perspectives, which has further fueled the discussion surrounding the topic.
Below is a screenshot of the claim circulated on Facebook on February 11, 2025, stating: “Breaking News: Elon Musk buys ABC and appoints Tucker Carlson as CEO to ‘End Woke Media.”
The claim was also shared by another user on social media, where it quickly gained significant traction, accumulating numerous shares, reactions, and comments from Facebook users.
Below is the screenshot of the claim posted on Facebook on February 11, 2025, stating: “BREAKING: Elon Musk Buys ABC and Appoints Tucker Carlson as CEO to End ‘Woke’ Media Mentality.”
The same claim has been widely circulated on other social media platforms, including Meta’s newly formed Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
Below is the capture of the same claim from Threads posted on February 17, 2025, stating: “BREAKING: Elon Musk Buys ABC and Appoints Tucker Carlson as CEO to End “Woke” Media Mentality”
Below is the screenshot of the same claim circulated on Instagram two days ago, stating: “Breaking News: Elon Musk buys ABC and appoints Tucker Carlson as CEO to end woke media.”
Instagram Post | Archived Link
As it is going viral on social media, the same or similar claim can be discovered via the links provided here: Link 1 (archived), Link 2 (archived), Link 3 (archived), Link 4 (archived), Link 5 (archived), Link 6 (archived), Link 7 (archived), and Link 8 (archived).
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo began debunking the claim above by reviewing reliable media reports and seeking clarification from the American broadcasting network and the political commentator described above. Then, we discover the following facts.
Founded in 1943, ABC is one of the three major broadcasting networks in the United States. The network has been owned by the Walt Disney Company since 1996.
The acquisition of the broadcasting network should be reported globally by reputable media outlets, particularly in the United States. However, as of this report’s publication, no news coverage has emerged regarding this acquisition.
Instead, our search keywords on Google show that the claim mentioned above has been debunked and classified as false information since last year.
Last year, the claim was debunked by several reputable fact-checking media organizations, including Reuters, Politifact, and Snopes.
The most recent story was debunked by USA TODAY last month, stating that the claim originated from satirical websites and was classified as false information.
Currently, there is no statement from Elon Musk on his X account regarding the purchase of ABC network.
On its official website, the Walt Disney Company has not issued any press release or statement indicating that the ABC network is for sale.
Below is the screenshot of the most recent press releases published on the Walt Disney Company’s official website as of February 20, 2025. The latest press release is the company’s earnings report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.
Walt Disney Company’s Website | Archived Link
Fact Crescendo attempted to contact the company via email, but no response has been received as of the publication of this report.
The claim also stated that Elon Musk appointed Tucker Carlson as CEO of ABC after purchasing the broadcasting network.
Fact Crescendo also contacted the conservative political commentator for clarification and comments via email but has not received a response.
Further updates regarding the company’s clarification, along with Tucker Carlson’s statement, will be shared shortly.
As the world’s wealthiest billionaire, Elon Musk is known for founding Tesla, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, as well as SpaceX, a pioneering aerospace company.
He also acquired Twitter, one of the most well-known social media platforms, which he subsequently renamed X. Recently, Musk made an attempt to purchase OpenAI but was unsuccessful in the endeavor.
Elon Musk has been the target of claims and rumors for years. Fact Crescendo has debunked many of the allegations against the world’s richest billionaire and his companies.
In November, a claim circulated widely on social media, alleging that he had acquired the renowned news network CNN. However, our investigation revealed that this assertion was false.
Below is a collection of previously debunked stories concerning Musk and his various companies:
- AI-Generated Image Claimed Elon Musk Sleeping at DOGE’s Floor
- Viral Rumor Claims Elon Musk Has Acquired CNN for $3 Billion
- Viral Rumor Claims Elon Musk Acquired Ford Motor Company
- Altered Photo Falsely Claimed as Inside Tesla’s Phone Plant
- AI-Generated Image Falsely Links Nikola Tesla to Cybertruck
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo categorizes the claim as false, stating that there is no evidence to support the assertion that Elon Musk has purchased the ABC broadcasting network. The network continues to be owned by The Walt Disney Company.
