Stephen King Clashes with Elon Musk Over Twitter Name Change
Renowned author Stephen King and tech magnate Elon Musk engaged in a public spat on Twitter over the social media platform's recent name change. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, called out King for refusing to use the new name, X.
Twitter's Rebranding Draws Controversy
King's refusal to acknowledge Twitter's rebranding as X prompted Musk to accuse him of "dead-naming" the platform. Deadnaming refers to using a transgender person's former name without their consent.
The dispute arose after a report by the Tech Transparency Project revealed that X may have violated US sanctions by accepting payment from accounts associated with Hezbollah leaders and Houthi groups. In response to the report, X stated that they would review the findings and take appropriate action if necessary.
King Criticizes Musk for Personal Branding
The conflict further escalated when King took to X to express his disdain for Musk's personal branding efforts. King expressed his frustration, stating, "F*** your need to put your personal brand on everything." He also emphasized that owning a platform does not equate to absolute control.
Twitter Clash is Not Their First Rodeo
This recent clash between King and Musk is not the first time they have clashed on Twitter. In 2022, the two sparred over Twitter's decision to charge for verified accounts. King voiced his opposition and suggested that he should be paid instead. Musk responded by proposing a subscription fee of $8 per month to sustain the platform.
Musk's Company Moves State of Incorporation
In other news, Musk announced that he has relocated the state of incorporation for SpaceX from Delaware to Texas. This move followed a ruling by Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick, who voided Musk's compensation package from Tesla. The ruling occurred due to a lawsuit filed by a shareholder, alleging undisclosed ties between Musk and the board members who negotiated the multi-billion dollar package. McCormick deemed the approval process "deeply flawed" due to Musk's close relationship with certain board members.
This Twitter feud between Stephen King and Elon Musk highlights the ongoing tensions between prominent figures in the digital space. As social media continues to evolve, clashes over branding, identity, and accountability are likely to persist.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the market is unlikely to be significantly influenced by this news. The Twitter spat between Stephen King and Elon Musk is more of a personal disagreement and does not directly impact the market or their respective businesses. The move of Musk’s company SpaceX to Texas may have some administrative implications but is not expected to have a significant market effect.
