Remember when Elon Musk was going to buy Twitter?
Earlier this year, Musk seemed intent on taking over the social media platform. He signed a legal agreement to acquire the company and everything! Some doubted that the billionaire was actually serious about taking over Twitter because he has a long history of talking a big game and then not actually following through with delivery.
It’s official: Twitter is suing Elon Musk for backing down from acquisition
And, yes, those suspicions were correct as Elon Musk eventually pulled out of the deal and is now being sued by Twitter, which seeks to force Musk to honor his agreement and pay up.
But because of that same lawsuit, we now know that at one point Musk seemed pretty serious about it. really buy twitter As part of the legal discovery process before the two sides meet in court, Tesla CEO texts About Twitter has been made public.
In fundraising texts from big tech founders like Oracle’s Larry Ellison and LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman trying to add to the financials of the deal, there are some really interesting message. Let’s take a look at the “highlights”.
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Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey wanted Musk to take over the company
Jack Dorsey has been the face of Twitter for a long time, so it was little surprise when he announced resignation as CEO in November 2021 and leaving Board of Directors in May 2022.
But while he was still on Twitter’s board, Dorsey was messaging with Musk about acquiring Twitter and taking the company private. In response to a tweet from Musk asking whether a new platform was needed, Dorsey (or “Jack Jack,” as Musk saved his contact information) texted in March: “Yes, a new platform is needed. Is. This can’t be a company. That’s why I quit.”
“I believe it should be an open source protocol, funded by the kind of foundation that doesn’t own the protocol, only advances it. A little bit like what Signal has done. It can’t have an advertising model,” Dorsey continued. “It’s not a complicated thing, it just has to be done in the right way so that it’s resilient to what happened with Twitter.”
Dorsey explained that he would be completely gone from the company in May when he resigned from the board. After that, he intended to “make this work”.
Musk replied that he wanted to help, when Dorsey offered this interesting nugget of information: Dorsey first tried to get Musk on board and when that failed, Dorsey wanted out of Twitter.
“I wanted to talk with you about this when I was completely clear, because you care so much, value it (sic), and can stop helping in immeasurable ways.” . When we had Activist come over, I tried my best to get you on our board, and our board refused. About that time I decided I needed to work to quit, as Difficult it was for me,” Dorsey wrote.
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Musk wanted users to pay crypto to prove they weren’t bots
Elon Musk claims that his main reason for backing out of the Twitter deal was because of all the bots and fake accounts on Twitter. While his public comments made it clear that he knew it was an issue to deal with, his private texts go deeper into what Musk was planning to do about it.
And what else would a rich tech mogul living in 2022 suggest to solve a problem? Blockchain, of course!
Musk texted his brother Kimble, “I have an idea for a blockchain social media system that does both payments and short text messages/links like Twitter.” “All you need to do is pay a small amount to register your message on the chain, which will cut out the vast majority of spam and bots.”
That’s right, Elon wanted users to pay to verify their messages on the blockchain. Of course, many users may not have done this, and then what? Is this suggesting that if they didn’t pay, they would be counterfeiters? Thought has no meaning.
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Right-wingers see an opportunity in Musk
One of Elon Musk’s major plays when he was interested in acquiring Twitter was turning it into a “free speech” platform. Basically, he didn’t like the company’s policies regarding content moderation. An example of this is Twitter’s decision Sanctions Former President Donald Trump after the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Musk has said he will Reinstate If Trump runs Twitter then his account.
And one of Musk’s phone contacts appears to be bringing up Trump. However, unlike others in the filing, this person’s information has been redacted.
Sendler wrote to Musk, “It will be a delicate game of how to get right-wing people back on Twitter and how to navigate it (especially Boss himself, if you’re up for it),” referring to conservative personalities who have been asked to violate Twitter. Has been banned. Twitter rules.
The anonymous texter then makes a suggestion for “somebody who has a common cultural/political point of view to be the VP of actual enforcement.” That suggestion: “A Blake Masters type.”
Trump may be allowed back on Facebook as early as next year
Blake Masters, the former COO of right-wing tech VC Peter Thiel’s investment firm, is currently the Republican candidate for US Senate in Arizona, who has blamed for gun violence on “black people” is more Ongoing Beliefs that sound like a far-right white supremacist conspiracy known as “The Great Replacement Theory”.
In other texts from Musk, some right-wing politicians and conservative figures apparently wanted to engage with Twitter under the possible ownership of the Tesla CEO.
Another tech VC and Thiel ally Joe Lonsdale wrote, “Haha even Governor DeSantis called me just now with ideas on how to help you and fumed on that board and said the public is here for you It’s dry.” “Let me know if you or someone on your side would like to chat with her.
Former Congressman Justin Amash, a moderate, asked to be introduced to Musk about a possible Twitter acquisition, according to a text from tech investor David Sachs.
“Why don’t you buy Twitter? We run it for you,” wrote Mathias Döfner, CEO of media conglomerate Axel Springer, who once emailed executives at his company asking them to get together and pray for Trump’s re-election.
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Celebs embarrass themselves with over-the-top praise of tech executive Musk
Elon Musk is currently the richest person in the world, according to forbes, So, naturally, some people feel the need to move around a bit when interacting with him. But, some of the people who sent messages with Kasturi apparently thought that his texts would never see the light of day.
Angel investor Jason Calakanis reached out to Musk in hopes of apparently fulfilling his dream of being Twitter CEO.
“Put me on the game coach!” texted Calacanis with a smiley face emoji. “Twitter CEO is my dream job. We must create Mr. Beast for Twitter… We need to win the next two generations.”
And that’s not the only unsolicited advice Calcanis has given. Earlier in the conversation, the angel investor suggested getting rid of a large number of Twitter employees.
“Day zero. Sharpen your blades boys,” Calakanis wrote to Musk. “2 days a week office requirement = 20% voluntary departure.”
When Musk offered Calacanis “a position as strategic advisor, if it works out,” Calacanis replied: “100%. Board members, advisors, whatever… you have my sword.” “
No, Elon Musk. There is no conspiracy behind the low engagement on Twitter. It’s summer.
Somehow, that wasn’t the most serious message.
“You are the hero Gotham needs – Hell Fang yes!” Riot Games founder Mark Merrill sent the message to Musk.
CBS host and Oprah BFF Gayle King texted Musk for a sitdown interview in early April.
“What should I do????” The king asked. When news spread publicly about Musk’s offer to buy Twitter, King contacted her again via text message to shoot her shot for an interview.
“It’s like the kids today say ‘gangsta move,'” King said. “I don’t know how the shareholders turn it down… like I said you’re not like the other kids in class…”
And in what might be the least surprising text of them all, podcasters who reached out to Rogan Musk to ask, “Are you going to free Twitter from the censorship happy mob?”
Rogan offered to throw Musk a big party if he did.
