Tesla freezes out YouTuber MKBHD ahead of Model Y Performance review
Access economy replaces formal censorship, Anti-establishment brand adopts old gatekeeping
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Tesla has discovered a classic way to regulate journalism without regulating speech: stop returning calls.
Business Insider reports that YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD)—arguably the most influential tech reviewer on the internet—said Tesla “stopped talking to me” ahead of his review of the refreshed Model Y Performance. Instead of receiving a press loaner, Brownlee sourced the car from a local New Jersey EV dealership. Tesla did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
This is not a scandal in the legal sense; it is the point. Modern product “access” is a private licensing regime. Automakers don’t need to demand favorable coverage when they can ration the inputs: early vehicles, software builds, engineering interviews, embargo briefings, and the subtle prestige of being on the inside. If a reviewer becomes inconvenient, the punishment is administrative—silence, delays, fewer invites. No censorship board required.
Tesla’s brand mythology is built on insurgency: the company that bypassed dealers, mocked old media, and sold cars like consumer electronics. Yet the moment influencer journalism became a real distribution channel—and a real reputational risk—Tesla appears to be using the same gatekeeping playbook as the legacy firms it claims to have outgrown.
Brownlee’s history with Tesla makes the chill notable. In 2022 he called the Model S Plaid the “best overall car of the last decade.” But he has also publicly criticized Tesla’s pattern of overpromising, including after the Cybertruck delivery event, when range and pricing landed far from Elon Musk’s earlier claims. He also discussed canceling a $50,000 deposit for a long‑delayed Roadster after years of waiting.
Brownlee says the cut‑off wasn’t triggered by a “negative review,” underscoring how opaque the access economy is. The criteria are rarely stated, because explicit criteria would look like what they are: a soft form of editorial control.
Brownlee’s latest Model Y Performance review was largely positive, praising Tesla’s center display, regenerative braking, and improvements in ride quality—while noting the company’s lead has narrowed as rivals like Rivian, Lucid, and General Motors catch up.
A manufacturer confident in its product would welcome independent scrutiny—especially from a reviewer with 20 million subscribers. In the access economy, confidence is optional; control is the product.