Mark Cuban comes out in favor of racist DEI policies in bizarre response to Elon Musk

In a thread posted to X, Mark Cuban responded in favor of the DEI polices that Elon Musk characterized as permitting discrimination and racism.   

Originally replying to a statement in favor of DEI from Ed Krassenstein on X, Musk said, "Discrimination on the basis of race, which DEI does, is literally the definition of racism."  

Cuban quoted Musk's post and then typed out a long thread of his support for diversity, equity, and inclusion in business.   

"Let me help you out and give you my thoughts on DEI," Cuban began in his thread.   

Cuban continued, "Good businesses look where others don't, to find the employees that will put your business in the best possible position to succeed. You may not agree, but I take it as a given that there are people of various races, ethnicities, orientation, etc that are regularly excluded from hiring consideration."  

Cuban has previously said DEI is just "good business."  

"Having a workforce that is diverse and representative of your stakeholders is good for business," he continued in his post.   

Further in the thread, Cuban said that he made the mistake of thinking "equity" was "treating [people] the same."  

"Equity is a core principle of business. Put your employees in a position to succeed. Recognize their differences and play to their strengths where ever possible," he continued in his explanation.   

After explaining why he also thought the "inclusion" aspect of DEI was just about making employees "feel comfortable in their environment," Cuban compared DEI to healthcare.   

"One of the lessons I've learned in healthcare is that most CEOs don't know and don't really want to know where their healthcare benefit dollars are going," Cuban posted in response to Musk. "In their minds, its not part of the core competency of their business."  

Cuban then said that CEOs and leaders in the business industry, instead of seeing DEI as a "benefit" they see it as a "huge [monetary] expense."  

Other users on X slammed Cuban's analysis. The Hodge twins tersely put it, "Stop hiring people because of their skin color, it’s so easy to understand."  

Babylon Bee's Ashley St. Clair also replied in the thread, saying that Cuban gave a "pretty literal break down of 'DEI' from a definition standpoint" but said Cuban "seem[ed] to gloss over what DEI (and sister programs such as as [sic] affirmative action) has become in actuality." 

The exchange comes right after another business mogul, Bill Ackman, slammed DEI at Harvard and in other institutions in a statement on X.