OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Elon Musk made an offer to purchase 100 percent of Twitter and, to no surprise, there is a meltdown among those who work for Twitter, some liberals, and some people who claim to be conservative.
It only took four words from the Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink CEO to send his haters into a frenzy after he said “I made an offer.”
I made an offer https://t.co/VvreuPMeLu
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2022
Max Boot, who claims to be a conservative, started the hysterics with a tweet on Thursday after the announcement was shared by Musk.
“I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less,” he said.
I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less.
— Max Boot 🇺🇦 (@MaxBoot) April 14, 2022
“IM UP AND ELON MUSK CAN F**K OFF!” liberal commentator Tony Posnanski said.
IM UP AND ELON MUSK CAN FUCK OFF!
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) April 14, 2022
“F**k you, @elonmusk,” Whitney Dawn Carlson said in a tweet.
Fuck you, @elonmusk.
— whitney dawn carlson (@whitneydawn) April 14, 2022
“Elon Musk making a play for Twitter out of his petty cash drawer is one more example of why the pooling of so much wealth in the hands of a few is a societal disease,” Walter Schaub said.
Elon Musk making a play for Twitter out of his petty cash drawer is one more example of why the pooling of so much wealth in the hands of a few is a societal disease.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) April 14, 2022
“If Elon Musk takes over Twitter, I assume he’ll reinstate Trump, who’ll use the platform to spark deadly violence again. Musk may also delete accounts of people who think he’s a blight on the world — as I do,” he said.
“This game Elon Musk is playing with Twitter is dangerous. Twitter isn’t just another social media platform, and Elon clearly recognizes that,” Christopher Bouzy said.
This game Elon Musk is playing with Twitter is dangerous. Twitter isn't just another social media platform, and Elon clearly recognizes that.
— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) April 14, 2022
MSNBC political analyst Anand Giridharadas may have had the greatest meltdown.
“Elon Musk is why to abolish billionaires. Asking them to chip in their fair share isn’t enough. Regulating them isn’t enough. When people are allowed to acquire this much concentrated influence, they will inevitably manspread economic power into every other form of power,” he said.
Elon Musk is why to abolish billionaires.
Asking them to chip in their fair share isn’t enough. Regulating them isn’t enough.
When people are allowed to acquire this much concentrated influence, they will inevitably manspread economic power into every other form of power.
— Anand Giridharadas @ The.Ink (@AnandWrites) April 14, 2022
“I don’t want to leave Twitter but it seems a given that if Musk buys it it will become completely uninhabitable for trans people (and lots of other people),” Lilah Sturges tweeted.
I don’t want to leave Twitter but it seems a given that if Musk buys it it will become completely uninhabitable for trans people (and lots of other people).
— Lilah Sturges (@LilahSturges) April 14, 2022
“I will close this account and leave Twitter if @elonmusk takes control of it. I have no wish to listen to the incoherent howls, the baseless hate, and the banal, venal lies of Trump, and his like. Who’s with me? Without users, this platform is worthless,” another said.
I will close this account and leave Twitter if @elonmusk takes control of it. I have no wish to listen to the incoherent howls, the baseless hate, and the banal, venal lies of Trump, and his like.
Who's with me?
Without users, this platform is worthless.#TwitterTakeover
— Jane A. #FBPE (@jane_inprogress) April 14, 2022
Last week, the engineering manager of Twitter said he was “broken” after Musk purchased the majority ownership of the company and has been added to the board of directors.
Jay Holler went on a tirade on the platform expressing what the news of Musk’s position meant to him and it happened over several days.
Musk conducted a poll about adding an edit button to tweets with was retweeted by Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal who said, “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.” That prompted holler to quote tweet it, saying “NOW it might be time for an emergency Space.”
Ok @Zeke_Cao NOW it might be time for an emergency Space… https://t.co/NcAxBujS9o
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
“The problem with @elonmusk is that he has demonstrated a pattern of harmful behavior consistently that disproportionately impacts marginalized people, so maybe let’s not give him any more power than he already stole?” he said in another tweet.
The problem with @elonmusk is that he has demonstrated a pattern of harmful behavior consistently that disproportionately impacts marginalized people, so maybe let’s not give him any more power than he already stole? https://t.co/NcAxBujS9o
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
Holler went on, enraged after it was announced that Musk was added to the board of directors.
https://t.co/SjwgmQebfH pic.twitter.com/3a5YLbEcMO
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
WOW I spoke too soon! https://t.co/6Oc6gcLcwu
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
“For the first time, @Twitter leadership includes someone I had proactively Blocked on this platform,” he said.
For the first time, @Twitter leadership includes someone I had proactively Blocked on this platform.
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
The two tweets that got the most attention, however, were where Holler said he had been “radicalized” and “broken” by the news.
OK I’m radicalized now.
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
It’s broken me
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
He went on to post a series of tweets to stories, and Musk’s own tweets, that he believes shows Musk to be a “misogynist,” “sadistic,” and transphobic.
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
Hey @paraga how do you feel about the anti-trans rhetoric posted by our new board member less than 30 days ago? https://t.co/1vgscoiyqR
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 5, 2022
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) April 6, 2022
The Coming Collapse of Elon Musk https://t.co/bAkaMxdRtJ
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) March 10, 2022
Musk will offer $54.20 per share in cash, which represents a 54% premium over the Jan. 28 closing price.
In a letter to Twitter Musk said that he believes the company “will neither thrive nor serve [its free speech] societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.”
“If the deal doesn’t work, given that I don’t have confidence in management nor do I believe I can drive the necessary change in the public market, I would need to reconsider my position as a shareholder,” he said.
Musk has hired Morgan Stanley as an advisor to help with the takeover of the social media giant.