As X bleeds cash, Musk threatens Anti-Defamation League with defamation lawsuit

Musk claimed that ADL could be "on the hook" for $22B in X losses.

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[TVPaulD]

Please note that the "Power hungry Jews" quote has been invented by Judd Legum and quoted, as of now on the internet indexed by google, exclusively by Ms Belanger.

Please note that we all noticed you deliberately ignore the context of that statement being a joke and thus in no way presented as a quote in the manner you are implying and we can easily infer why you did that.

 

[MedicalGeek]

I'm not entirely convinced Trump is a natural born citizen either, because only an unnatural birthing process involving unholy incantations and blood sacrifices to Pazuzu could have summoned such a hideous little shitgoblin.

<spit take>

 

[lart]

Pro tip if you change your birthday on x twitter to make you less than 13 they will close your account for you. after about 15 years with twitter it was finally time for me.

 

[imikem]

"Free speech" for me, compelled speech for thee.

Fuck right off, Elon.

 

[Matthew J.]

Up next: You'd better watch out, SPLC!

 

[durindana]

Christ what an asshole

 

[rainynight65]

Amusingly, that guy filed a defamation suit against Musk... and lost. Apparently that object lesson on the difficulty of winning a defamation suit was lost on him.

It's a bit stupid though. According to the BBC, Musk told the court that the phrase 'pedo guy' was 'common in South Africa, where he grew up'. I merely lived in South Africa for seven years and change, but never once have I heard someone use that phrase - and South Africans are not shy when it comes to ribbing each other, very few expressions are off-limits or reserved for actual insults.

 

[Ripcord]

In the last few weeks, I have seen X decide that I am a right wing conservative. Despite blocking any account that show up in my notifications which I don't want to see, Elon must believe that I am in search of even more extreme views. I am Canadian and do not follow or interact with any politically motivated accounts. I am likely a few weeks from uninstalling the app should this crap continue.

....please just do it already, if you're still there you're part of the problem.

 

[Zapfenzieher]

Elon Musk @elonmusk [...]If they lose the defamation suit [...]

They won't.

 

[numerobis]

It's a bit stupid though. According to the BBC, Musk told the court that the phrase 'pedo guy' was 'common in South Africa, where he grew up'. I merely lived in South Africa for seven years and change, but never once have I heard someone use that phrase - and South Africans are not shy when it comes to ribbing each other, very few expressions are off-limits or reserved for actual insults.

The year I was in France, “pédé” was the in-vogue schoolyard insult. I can totally see it having been a thing when he was a kid, among his group, at that time.

It’s utterly irrelevant because he didn’t just call him a pedo in one tweet. He hired a private investigator and tried to get journalists to run the story.

 

[AceRimmer]

"People are telling me..."

I thought it was supposed to be "People are saying.."

 

[eyesoars]

You have a small problem Elon,

Opinions based upon disclosed facts are essentially immune from defamation liability. The opinion can be completely batshit insane, but so long as the facts that it discloses and is based upon are substantially true, no amount of hurt feelings is going to translate into a judgment against the people or organizations publishing the opinions.

Someone (the ADL) documented the basis of their opinion rather thoroughly. Have you identified a false statement of fact in that report, or are you just presuming that you can wear down anyone with your company that cannot even afford to pay the rent on its offices? I hate to break it to you, but while the ADL likely won't attempt to serve as its own attorneys, they have the expertise to back up whoever they choose. And there are plenty of people who will chip in on their defense given the horrible crap that you're attempting to paper over and distract from.

This is true in the U.S., and would lead to a 'first affirmative defense' -- you can't collect for defamation because what I said is factually true. It would be, at the very least, bad press for X/Xitter/Twitter/Twit.

In Europe, England particularly, that's not a valid defense, which makes defamation suits relatively popular there.

 

[klarg]

Where does Elon get the $44,000,000,000? That’s what he paid, not the valuation.

 

[MeowMix64]

I seriously don't get it, elon's lifestyle of "go woke, go broke" means that xitter should be one of the most riches platforms out there!

right guys? guys? hey, where is everyone going?

 

[MeowMix64]

Where does Elon get the $44,000,000,000? That’s what he paid, not the valuation.

To be fair, math (or anything in the STEM field) wasn't his strong suit.

 

[klarg]

Where does Elon get the $44,000,000,000 for Twitter/X/Bro Gab’s value? That’s what he paid, not the valuation. I’ve seen estimates in the 16-23 billion range.

 

[Bad Monkey!]

To be fair, math (or anything in the STEM field) wasn't his strong suit.

It's questionable he even legitimately earned his diplomas. He left UPenn for California a year before graduating, yet somehow managed to graduate with two degrees without ever returning to Pennsylvania, no one in his graduating class remembering him, and conveniently just in time that he would have needed a diploma to qualify for a work visa as he was not attending school and working illegally, and was at risk of being deported.

 

[waryoldguy]

Elon, just bend the arms of "X" at right angles and just admit to what you are.

 

[Godspeec]

Apple is not facing any consequences from continuing to advertise on Xitter, so they don't care. It is deplorable from them, yes, but it's the unfortunate reality. I also suspect there are a few assholes in their marketing department.

Nazis buy iphones too. Don’t wanna miss that revenue.

 

[brad0]

and shit in the same toilets as this ubermensch

No, I no longer use Twitter.

 

[theotherjim]

Musk said that once the controversy is stirred, X advertisers pause their spending until the ADL gives the green flag.

Does the ADL use green Jewish Space Lasers to provide the BatSignal that it's okay?

 

[Hispalensis]

Except that's not her job. Her job is to get advertisers to spend bazillions of dollars to advertise on Twitter regardless of what Musk says. In fact, it's likely her sales pitch includes the idea that it's SUCH an honor to be on the same platform with Musk, the advertisers should DOUBLE the bazillions they're spending.

The astute reader will note that so far, Yaccarino has been astoundingly bad at her job. Something anyone with more than zero brain cells could have told her before she started.

Yaccarino certainly knows it, and will probably be laughing all the way to her bank account until everything is over. After all if you are boarding a doomed ship nobody is going to blame you for running it aground, and you can always claim that you were a much needed "moderating influence".

 

[Andrew Wade]

He seems to be implying that advertisers don't have brains of their own, and just blindly follow the advice of the ADL. In reality, the ADL's research is likely just one data point that informs their decisions to pull their ad budgets from Twitter. Lord knows there are plenty of other places to spend one's ad budget these days!

Spocko's experience shutting down hate radio suggests that going to advertisers with examples is highly effective. If ADL's name is on advertiser's lips it's probably because the ADL is doing the same thing (providing receipts). And it does seem a little odd: don't the advertisers already know? But I guess the people making advertising decisions may react differently if they actually see the hate rather than just hear about it.

Edit: But yes, I doubt advertisers are blindly following the advice of the ADL.

 

[thrillgore]

She IS doing her job. Shutting up and staying in her lane.

If you consider sitting on the tallest glass cliff a job.

 

[ilidd]

Or, in other words, Petulant Man-Baby Throws Toys out of Pram.

I really want to sign up as “Elon Musk’s Mum” and just reply to all his posts with “stop being a petulant child”, until he deletes the account.

 

[nimelennar]

Is everyone else tired of hearing about this "Twatter" asshole.

Sometimes, sure. Whenever that happens (which, yes, is becoming more and more frequent), I decide not to read the article.

It's not a perfect system, but it limits my exposure to tolerable levels.

 

[SeanJW]

It's a bit stupid though. According to the BBC, Musk told the court that the phrase 'pedo guy' was 'common in South Africa, where he grew up'. I merely lived in South Africa for seven years and change, but never once have I heard someone use that phrase - and South Africans are not shy when it comes to ribbing each other, very few expressions are off-limits or reserved for actual insults.

Unfortunately the diver's lawyer Lin Wood was an apparent good choice (they had a good reputation in defamation cases at that stage), but in retrospect they were well on their way to the crazy train - he is one of the former Trump lawyers disciplined for inappropriate legal shenanigans.

 

[zogus]

I'd love to see Linda Yaccarino do her job and try to interdict these expensive suits.

You sound as if Yaccarino is expected to work as the company’s CEO. Her real job, in case you haven’t figured it out already, is to be the next warm body for Elon to throw under the bus after he runs out of Jews and liberals to blame for his failure.

 

[Deleted member 850282]

Listen elon, for giving aid and comfort to every fascist, anti-vaxxer, nazi, and every other piece of human crap out there, you DESERVE IT.

I can't image he'll actually go through with a lawsuit against the ADL. Simply because discovery into X's policies would be super interesting. Also very unlikely to be flattering to Musk.

Unflattering? So? elon's like trump, he has ZERO shame. He don't give a rat's ass. The Bond supervillain, writ real . . . .

 

[Deleted member 850282]

I suspect you're wrong, and one day he will suddenly be incredibly tired of this.

Kind like the way Joe Biggs all of a sudden got very tired of his own schtick, if you get the reference.

Never. He's like trump and branson, just wallows in the ego-stroking attention, no matter how crap-covered he gets. Too bad there's not a SAM with his private jet's registration number on it. "Queue Ride of the Valkeries"

 

[Auie]

Ars better watch out. Authors here have said less than ingratiating things about Twitter / SpaceX / Starlink / Musk / Tesla / Solar City.

I'll bet Ars is on the hook for billions.

_{(Not even sarcasm)}

Maybe Ars be waiting for the lawsuits to start rolling in, before removing themselves from the Twit.

 

[Kyuu]

Fuck me. This asshole is becoming so toxic that the stench of my Model 3's association with him means I need to ditch it ASAP. EX30 can't come out soon enough.

 

[AmanoJyaku]

You sound as if Yaccarino is expected to work as the company’s CEO. Her real job, in case you haven’t figured it out already, is to be the next warm body for Elon to throw under the bus after he runs out of Jews and liberals to blame for his failure.

And I'm sure Yaccarino's fine with that. It's not like anything that happens is going to affect her, she's not looking for another job. Musk is going to fuck up Twitter no matter what, so she may as well collect a few million for her retirement.

 

[zogus]

Yaccarino certainly knows it, and thinks she will probably be laughing all the way to her bank account until everything is over because she naively assumes Musk will deviate from his modus operandi and actually pay her. After all if you are boarding a doomed ship nobody is going to blame you for running it aground, and you can always claim that you were a much needed "moderating influence".

T, FIFY.

If she actually does manage to walk away with every last cent that Musk contractually owes her, she would be more competent than most Ars posters are willing to give her credit for.

 

[panton41]

2024 Oscars: And this year's Academy Award for best performance as a Bond villain goes to... ELON MUSK!

More like Dr. Evil, except the Austin Powers character has better hair.

Though, I generally connect Dr. Evil to Jeff Bezos, for obvious reasons.

 

[Papewaio]

More like Dr. Evil, except the Austin Powers character has better hair.

Though, I generally connect Dr. Evil to Jeff Bezos, for obvious reasons.

So one of them can be Mini-me.

 

[panton41]

So one of them can be Mini-me.

No, that's for Danny Divito.

 

[eyesoars]

I really want to sign up as “Elon Musk’s Mum” and just reply to all his posts with “stop being a petulant child”, until he deletes the account.

Not "Elon Musk's Mum's Cow"?