Source: SOPA Images / Getty
As expected, Elon Musk just purchased Twitter. The founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla reportedly purchased the social media app for a cool $44 billion, but not everyone is celebrating.
I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022
According to the New York Times, Musk and the Twitter board secured the deal after much wrangling.
Twitter agreed to sell itself to Mr. Musk for $54.20 a share, a 38 percent premium over the company’s share price this month before he revealed he was the firm’s single largest shareholder. It would be the largest deal to take a company private — something Mr. Musk has said he will do with Twitter — in at least two decades, according to data compiled by Dealogic.
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Mr. Musk said in a statement. He said he wanted “to make Twitter better than ever.”
The pro and cons of Musk buying Twitter and potentially making the company private is already being polarized on ideological lines. The conservative and MAGA bros are seeing the move is potential ownage of the libs.
Elon Musk is buying Twitter.
CNN+ is shutting down.
Disney is being reined in.
It's a bad time to be woke.
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) April 25, 2022
The more progressive crowd isn’t feeling a guy like Musk taking the company private and throwing plenty of f*ckery into the mix. Also, you have heard of Tesla being sued for rampant racism against Black employees by the state of California, right?
Black Twitter is ringing the bell to stay woke since despite Musk’s successes, dude has proven to be quite problematic. Peep some of the reactions in the gallery.
elon musk spending $43 billion to stop getting bullied on twitter when he could’ve simply been less annoying is insane
— first-mate prance (@bocxtop) April 25, 2022
2.
Also, Tesla is being sued RIGHT NOW by thousands of Black current and former employees (and the state of California) for racial discrimination. If that's the type of environment Elon Musk brings to Twitter, I don't want it. https://t.co/WlBnep1iMp
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) April 25, 2022
3.
Here's @elonmusk's statement on free speech after his takeover of @Twitter was formally announced
pic.twitter.com/EOPO5QPDdN
— Young Americans for Liberty (@YALiberty) April 25, 2022
4.
Twitter has been officially sold to Elon Musk for $44 billion. pic.twitter.com/0eJMSXgKK5
— Modern Notoriety (@ModernNotoriety) April 25, 2022
5.
Put this Elon Musk tweet in the all-time aged well category pic.twitter.com/YtbMmoO160
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 25, 2022
7.
Fuck Elon Musk. Apartheid Baby. You, your company, and everyone who Stans for you. I'm saying this on your platform now and will keep saying it. Let's see how committed you are to free speech when we start roasting your ass…
— Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) April 25, 2022
8.
“Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 million but I got it for fre-“ pic.twitter.com/kJUHuMy8VO
— aaron judge truther (@BrosephSZN) April 25, 2022
9.
Has Jen Psaki blamed Putin for Elon Musk buying Twitter yet?
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) April 25, 2022
10.
Dear Elon Musk,
Please keep Trump off of Twitter.Sincerely,
All Americans— Jack Cocchiarella (@JDCocchiarella) April 25, 2022
11.
Not sure I am interested in Twitter if Elon Musk owns it.
— John W. Dean (@JohnWDean) April 24, 2022
12.
Black Twitter ran the value up on all this social media shit.
— Los PopaVitch (@KarlousM) April 25, 2022
13.
Never forget black people are what defines cool. We are the people who control culture. Twitter will live or die based on our desire to make it so not Elon Musk. We made Facebook cool, we made MySpace cool, we made Twitter cool. Black teens run TikTok. All of that’s us.
— Domo (@DapperDomo) April 25, 2022
14.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure my mental health can handle being on Twitter if and when the vile Elon Musk owns it and turns it into a GQP propaganda fortress. I just don’t know. I’m going to need several cups of black coffee this morning.
— Ricky Davila
(@TheRickyDavila) April 25, 2022
15.
It would kinda dope if Musk bought Twitter and just shut it off…. Lol
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) April 25, 2022
(@JackPosobiec)
(@TheRickyDavila)