In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has been labeled the ‘2023 Scoundrel of the Year’ by the American news website New Republic. The scathing article criticizes Musk’s handling of X, accusing him of bringing the platform to the brink of collapse.
The controversy traces back to X’s decision to suspend former US president Donald Trump’s account following the January 6 Capitol riots. The website contends that X, under Musk’s ownership, is now worth less than half of what he paid to acquire it just last year.
Once regarded as a visionary in the realms of electric cars and rockets, Musk is now portrayed as the ‘most villainous’ and ‘deeply stupid and unserious person.’ The article draws parallels with other tech giants like Google and Facebook, highlighting Musk’s previous unscathed status before recent events.
The website accuses Musk of incompetence and labels him as ‘evil,’ alleging that he has welcomed and legitimized ‘heinous’ forces on X. Specifically, Musk is criticized for reinstating controversial figures such as Alex Jones and Donald Trump, fostering a platform that the article claims is now rife with misinformation and propaganda.
A pivotal moment in the controversy occurred on November 15 when Musk agreed with a user who made anti-Semitic remarks, sparking widespread condemnation. The website deems Musk’s statement as unsurprising and reprehensible, characterizing him as ‘fantastically wealthy’ but ‘deeply hateful’ for dedicating his fortune to attacking diversity.
The article contends that X is now hanging by a thread, blaming Musk for opening the floodgates to ‘bigots’ and ‘trolls.’ The platform is described as a source of endless misinformation, where conspiracy theorists and propagandists gain prominence. The website concludes by painting a grim picture of X’s current state and questioning the impact of Musk’s presence on the once influential social media platform.
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