Elon Musk has urged his followers to stop donating to Wikipedia, which he disparagingly referred to as “Wokepedia.” Musk’s criticism stems from the Wikimedia Foundation’s allocation of over $50 million—roughly 29% of its $177 million budget—for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including “safety and inclusion” programs. Musk, responding to a social media post highlighting these expenditures, claimed that the organization needs to “restore balance to their editing authority.”
DEI policies, which aim to diversify organizations and improve inclusivity, have been the subject of backlash from conservative critics, who argue such measures often lead to reverse discrimination and undermine merit-based systems. Musk’s statements join a broader push by right-leaning figures to challenge DEI practices in corporate and nonprofit settings.
Wikipedia, which boasts over 4 billion monthly visits, has long claimed political neutrality but faces accusations of left-leaning bias. Studies and reports have highlighted that right-leaning figures often receive more negative portrayals compared to their left-leaning counterparts on the platform. This includes former co-founder Larry Sanger’s assertion that Wikipedia’s editorial practices systematically exclude non-liberal perspectives.
The controversy reflects deeper divides over the role of DEI initiatives and perceived political biases in influential platforms like Wikipedia. Musk’s comments are expected to fuel further debate over the responsibilities of such organizations and their funding priorities.
