NBC’s coverage of the Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers has sparked controversy after accusations surfaced that the network deliberately ignored Elon Musk’s presence at the game. The X (formerly Twitter) CEO was in the stands at Acrisure Stadium for the prime-time matchup on Sunday night, just a day after making a public appearance with Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Musk, who is a well-known public figure and ally of Trump, was seen engaging with the Pittsburgh Steelers crowd, even waving the team’s iconic “Terrible Towel” from a VIP suite.
Despite his visible presence at the game, viewers noticed that NBC’s broadcast didn’t feature Musk at all, a stark contrast to the extensive coverage given to other high-profile attendees, such as pop superstar Taylor Swift at recent NFL games.
Former NFL star and outspoken Trump supporter Antonio Brown took to X to accuse NBC of intentionally omitting Musk from the broadcast. Brown, a frequent critic of mainstream media, implied that the decision was part of a larger effort to censor figures who support Trump and conservative causes. “NBC chose not to show @elonmusk at the Cowboys vs Steelers game,” Brown alleged. He went on to add, “Another reason to get out and vote. Media censoring is real and will only get worse unless we demand change.”
While Brown’s accusation stirred conversation, there is no concrete evidence that NBC deliberately avoided showing Musk. As of yet, NBC Sports has not responded to requests for comment. Despite this, the claim has fueled discussions about media bias, particularly in political coverage, and how public figures with ties to certain political movements are portrayed on national television.
Musk’s appearance at the Steelers game followed his energetic participation at a Trump rally the day before, where he joined the former president on stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Pennsylvania. His involvement in political events, especially alongside Trump, has made Musk a polarizing figure.
At the rally, he whipped up the crowd, waving and smiling, a performance that continued the next night when he cheered on the Steelers in their close loss to the Cowboys.
Brown, who has been pushing a voter-registration initiative in Pennsylvania, originally stated that he planned to attend the game as part of his efforts. However, despite engaging with Musk on X about his voter drive, Brown was notably absent from the event.
This isn’t the first time accusations of media bias have emerged concerning Trump and his supporters. In a similar instance last month, ABC was criticized for allegedly minimizing Trump’s appearance at a major college football game between Georgia and Alabama.
Trump was in attendance at the game on September 28, but viewers claimed that ABC’s broadcast only briefly showed him on screen for a mere six seconds, sparking outrage among his supporters.
Social media erupted with accusations that ABC deliberately avoided showing Trump, who had received a warm reception from the crowd, including college students who enthusiastically greeted him as he tossed popcorn into the stands.
The growing controversy over how networks cover political figures at sporting events has only intensified in recent weeks, with some arguing that there is an intentional effort to minimize the presence of individuals like Trump and Musk.
Critics allege that this media blackout is a reflection of bias in the media, while others maintain that the absence of such figures in broadcasts is coincidental and has more to do with the networks’ focus on the games themselves.
As this latest incident involving Musk and NBC unfolds, the debate about media representation and bias will likely continue.
Whether intentional or not, the lack of coverage surrounding Musk’s appearance has once again put a spotlight on how sports broadcasts handle high-profile political figures in the stands.
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