TikTok says it has restored the advertising account for a new documentary about Elon Musk, only a short time after the film’s distributor was told the account had been permanently suspended.

The reversal adds another twist to a rollout that has already seen several social media platforms reject ads for the film’s trailer, and it leaves some questions about what exactly triggered the ban.

TikTok Said It Restored ‘Musk’ Documentary Accounts

A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the reversal to The Verge, saying, “I can confirm that the advertising account has been restored after an error.” Deadline also reported that a source close to the production confirmed the account is back, which came after Bleecker Street was notified of a permanent suspension on Friday. Deadline framed the Bleecker and Universal project as continuing to push back against censorship on social platforms.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that Bleecker Street received the permanent suspension notice due to the film’s political content, and a spokesperson for the distributor expressed disappointment about the timing, since the documentary was beginning a wider theatrical rollout. TikTok did not say which content was flagged as problematic, according to Digital Today.

Not every outlet described the restoration the same way, since the reports noted that TikTok’s brief confirmation does not explain what triggered the suspension or whether the paid advertising status of the film was affected. Another report said the reversal included the ability to purchase ads, which means the exact scope of the restoration is still not fully clear from TikTok’s own words.

TikTok Previously Banned ‘Musk’ Documentary Ads

TikTok informed Bleecker Street on Friday that the film’s advertising account had received a permanent suspension, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and the notice cited the account’s political content. TikTok’s rules restrict political accounts and bar paid political advertising, and a spokesperson has revealed that the platform “does not allow political advertising.”

Based on the recent reports, TikTok said the account repeatedly violated its policies on political content.

The ban followed a period of lengthy correspondence between representatives of Bleecker Street and TikTok, and Bleecker Street was reportedly appealing the decision before the reversal. The film’s promotional page had also urged viewers to watch the film “before it gets shut down” shortly before the account was removed, according to The Mary Sue.

TechCrunch noted that TikTok’s United States operations are partly owned by Larry Ellison, who, like Musk, has been a notable supporter of President Donald Trump. Ellison also appears in the documentary, which shows a text he sent to Musk offering to contribute billions of dollars to help purchase Twitter, the platform Musk later renamed X.

Previously, it was noted that TikTok declined to comment at first and that it was unclear whether any of the ads for “Musk” could reasonably be described as crossing into severe harm. That report also said the timing raised concerns because the ban landed right before the film’s expansion into hundreds of screens, and the damage from missing ads may already have been done.

‘Musk’ Documentary Ads Across Social Media

Last month, YouTube, Meta, X, and TikTok all rejected ads for the film’s trailer, and the rejections drew backlash. Meta and YouTube quickly reversed course, with Meta blaming an error and YouTube saying the video had been temporarily restricted by its system because it was submitted as an ad.

TikTok and X did not change their stances at the time, and neither platform allowed paid advertisements for the film, according to The Verge. X, which Musk owns, has refused to carry ads for “Musk,” as TechCrunch reported.

Producer Nick Shumaker spoke about the blocked trailer at Deadline’s Zurich Studio, saying the trailer “is not a political ad” and that the producers need to be as loud as possible about the issue. The film’s international distributor Universal also wavered in its plans to release “Musk,” according to filmmaker Alex Gibney, though it is now moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is ‘Musk’?

“Musk” is a nearly four hour documentary about Elon Musk, directed by Oscar winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, that takes an unflattering look at the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive. It is distributed in the United States by Bleecker Street and internationally by Universal, and the film notably points out the connection between Musk and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison.

The documentary opened in just four theaters before expanding to a wider rollout, and TechCrunch described it as continuing to meet resistance from social media platforms. Its promotional efforts have centered on a trailer that several platforms initially refused to run as an ad.

Why Does Elon Musk Have a Documentary?

Elon Musk is described as the world’s richest man and the current chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, and he owns the social media platform X, which was formerly known as Twitter. The Telegraph calls the film an investigative documentary into him, and The Mary Sue says it scrutinizes his influence.

Deadline’s report carried by Yahoo notes that Musk does not have an investment in TikTok, though his longtime friend Larry Ellison, who invested in Tesla and X, is a part owner of the platform, and the film shows a text from Ellison offering to contribute billions toward the Twitter purchase. Digital Today reported that there was no confirmed evidence TikTok intentionally sought to block criticism of Musk.

Where to Watch the ‘Musk’ Documentary?

The documentary is playing in theaters, having opened in four locations in New York and Los Angeles before rolling out more broadly across the United States. The film opened on October 9, according to Artiverse, and a Yahoo report said it was set to expand to roughly 500 screens across the United States.

For streaming, the film is supposed to arrive on HBO next year, according to TechCrunch, which noted that HBO is now part of Paramount Skydance, which is led by Larry Ellison’s son David. A specific streaming date has not been reported, and international release plans remain tied to Universal, which TechCrunch says is now moving forward with its release.

Who Owns TikTok’s US Operations?

TikTok’s American operations are partly owned by Larry Ellison, alongside a group of other US investors, according to The Telegraph and TechCrunch. An analysis carried by Yahoo adds that Ellison holds a 15 percent stake in TikTok US through Oracle, the company he cofounded.