In response to the backlash from some schools, Musk followed up with another tweet: “Don’t get me wrong, kids can still have rainbows in their drawings… just not plastered on the walls in the name of an agenda.”
As usual, Musk’s comment quickly spilled beyond the confines of social media and the classroom, sparking discussions in boardrooms and offices across the country. Many of Musk’s peers in the business world chose to stay silent on the matter, not eager to wade into yet another one of his Twitter storms. However, some did voice their opinions.
“Education should be free of distractions. I applaud Elon for saying what many of us are too afraid to,” said one CEO who requested anonymity (and who also happens to run a company that relies heavily on SpaceX for satellite launches).
Meanwhile, companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Disney, known for their vocal support of LGBTQ+ issues, were quick to issue statements opposing Musk’s sentiment. “We stand with all students, regardless of who they are or who they love. Our classrooms should reflect diversity, not hide it,” read a statement from Disney, accompanied by an obligatory rainbow heart emoji.
As is typical with any Musk Twitter event, it didn’t take long for the internet’s creative forces to get to work. Memes ranging from Musk holding a Pride flag in his Mars Rover to animated sequences of rainbow rockets launching into orbit quickly flooded timelines. The “Ban the Flag” movement, as it became known, even gained traction in meme-ified news segments, complete with commentators discussing the logistics of sending all Pride flags to the Moon.
Late-night hosts couldn’t resist jumping into the fray either. Stephen Colbert quipped, “Elon Musk wants to ban Pride flags from classrooms, which makes sense. He’s already banned subtlety from Twitter.”
