No, Elon Musk Did Not Change the X Like Button for Miss Universe 2024
3 min readA viral rumor circulating online claims that Elon Musk altered the “like” button on X (formerly Twitter) in support of the 2024 Miss Universe winner. While the story gained traction after a user posted a fiery emoji supposedly tied to the contest, the claim has been debunked by X itself.
The rumor originated from a post by X user @UtdTreyJinxed, which featured a clip from the Miss Universe pageant alongside an image of a fiery emoji. The caption read:
“BIG NEWS: It’s real—it actually happened! Elon Musk has changed the like button just for Miss Universe… #MissUniverse #MissUniverse2024 #MissUniverso.”
This post quickly went viral, fueling speculation about Musk’s involvement. However, X clarified that the fiery emoji was not tied to the Miss Universe contest or its winner. Instead, it was revealed to be a hashmoji—a custom emoji activated by using certain hashtags, specifically in Germany.
BIG NEWS: It’s real—it actually happened! 🙀 Elon Musk has changed the like button just for Miss Universe 🤯🤯#MissUniverse #MissUniverse2024 #MissUniverso pic.twitter.com/NO9qv6lQgY
— Has Trey Jinxed Someone ? (@UtdTreyJinxed) November 15, 2024
What Are Hashmojis?
Hashmojis are a unique feature on X that display customized emojis when a user includes specific hashtags in a post. They are often used by brands or events to increase engagement and awareness. The fiery emoji in question was associated with a campaign for the video game Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, not the Miss Universe competition.
The rumor gained traction because the hashtag for the 2024 Miss Universe event coincided with the trending hashtag for Banishers. This overlap led to confusion, with users mistakenly believing the fiery emoji was linked to the beauty pageant.
Hit the ❤️🔥 for a fiery surprise#Banishers (🇩🇪 only) pic.twitter.com/9BoRrSML3e
— Hashmojis (@hashmojis) May 8, 2024
The Truth About the Miss Universe 2024 Like Button
X has confirmed that the like button for Miss Universe 2024 was never altered. The fiery emoji tied to the hashmoji feature was unrelated to the pageant or its winner, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark.
Theilvig made history by becoming the first Danish competitor to win the prestigious title, triumphing over more than 120 contestants. The event, held at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, saw Nigeria’s Cnidimma Adetshina take second place and Mexico’s María Fernanda Beltrán secure third.
The claim that Elon Musk changed X’s like button to support Miss Universe 2024 is entirely false. The fiery emoji was a hashmoji tied to a marketing campaign for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. The incident serves as a reminder to verify online claims, particularly those that spread rapidly on social media.
Hit the ❤️ for a sweet surprise.#StayConnectedStayTogether (🇩🇪 only) pic.twitter.com/MVRtsEoEG5
— Hashmojis (@hashmojis) December 18, 2023