X Platform's $1 Million Writing Prize Goes to User with History of Controversial Posts
Elon Musk's social media platform X has awarded its prestigious $1 million grand prize for "high-value, high-impact" writing to a user whose account contains a documented history of racist, anti-immigration content and ableist language. The announcement, made on Tuesday, has ignited significant controversy and criticism from users and advocacy groups.
Controversial Winner and Content History
The winning account, @beaverd, is described as an "affiliate" of cryptocurrency casino Toshi Bet and received the platform's top award for an article about consulting firm Deloitte. However, examination of the user's posting history reveals numerous problematic statements that have drawn sharp condemnation.
Over the past year, the account has published content that includes:
- Posts criticizing multiculturalism and promoting conspiracy theories
- Content featuring an ableist slur in the user's bio
- An avatar linked to a project associated with racist, extremist material
- Statements declaring women's suffrage was a "catastrophic mistake"
One particularly inflammatory post responded to a Department of Homeland Security claim about "anti-ICE agitators" targeting Customs and Border Protection dogs. The user commented that "this dog's life is worth more than renee good's," referencing the Minneapolis resident whose fatal shooting sparked nationwide protests against Trump administration immigration policies.
Additional Controversial Statements
The user's posting history contains numerous other concerning statements, including:
- Claims that "everything" progressive causes stand for "is just tax fraud but gay or brown"
- Statements suggesting heaven would be hell if filled with Somalians
- Calls for white and Black Americans to unite against foreign "invaders" described as a "drain on our govt."
- A December post reading: "i think america is ready for a shade of white. lets send those somali's back."
Some messages appear to address allegations of fraud by Somali residents in Minnesota, charges that the administration previously used to justify immigration enforcement actions in the state.
Platform Response and Musk's History
Following the announcement, numerous X users have accused the platform of awarding $1 million to what they describe as "a Nazi" and Hitler admirer. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, commented: "Great job Elon, what an excellent user to promote. Surely this will make the Europeans back off their investigation into rampant antisemitism and hate speech on this site!"
This controversy occurs against a backdrop of Elon Musk's own history of amplifying anti-immigration rhetoric on his platform. The billionaire has repeatedly used X to promote far-right theories including the "great replacement" conspiracy and posts calling for "white solidarity."
Musk has previously warned that white people represent a "rapidly diminishing minority" globally and has made unfounded claims about "white genocide" in South Africa, while accusing the South African government of being "super racist against anyone who isn't Black."
Ongoing Investigations and Response
The platform's decision comes as European regulators continue investigating allegations of rampant antisemitism and hate speech on X. The $1 million prize award to a user with such documented controversial content raises questions about the platform's content moderation policies and prize selection criteria.
HuffPost has reached out to @beaverd, X platform representatives, and Toshi Bet for comment regarding the award and the user's posting history. The response from these parties and the broader implications for platform accountability remain developing stories in the ongoing discussion about social media responsibility and content moderation.
