Elon Musk Forced Into Public Apology

Elon Musk Forced Into Public Apology

Elon Musk has condemned his own public platform and said ‘it’s better to talk then tweet’ as he publicly apologized to a sacked Twitter employee who suffers from muscular dystrophy after he accused him using his disability as an ‘excuse’ to do ‘no actual work’.

Icelandic entrepreneur Halli Thorleifsson, 45, had sent a direct tweet to the billionaire to ask whether he was still employed at Twitter after he was locked out of his work’s computer system, telling Musk that the HR department had not responded to him for nine days.

Eventually, Thorleifsson, who uses a wheelchair, got his answer after a surreal Twitter exchange with Musk, who proceeded to quiz him about his work, question his disability and need for accommodations.

Musk tweeted: ‘The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that.’

While the exchange was going on, Thorleifsson said he received an email that he was no longer employed. Musk was later forced to apologize to the Icelander after he was slammed by other Twitter users, with some accusing the CEO of being a ‘terrible person’ who discriminates against disabled people.

‘I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful,’ Musk tweeted. ‘He is considering remaining at Twitter.’

Musk also bizarrely condemned Twitter as a platform – despite being the social media giant’s CEO – and said it was ‘better to talk to people than communicate via tweet’ after he spoke with Thorleifsson on a video call to discuss his situation.

The Twitter CEO has been slammed on social media for his tweets to Thorleifsson, with some accusing Musk of discriminating against disabled people and being a ‘terrible person’.

David Goldfard, the founder and Studio Creative Director of The Outsiders, tweeted: ‘So now you are mocking someone with a disability? Weird flex.’

‘What happened to you Elon? You need a break from the spotlight dude. You’re actually starting to get so far disconnected from reality that it’s sad to see your legacy crumble. I hope you find some peace soon,’ one Twitter user wrote.

Another wrote: ‘Congratulations on helping him prove to a court you discriminate against disabled people.’

‘You are a terrible person and the sooner you are gone from managing this site the better it will be for everyone,’ one person wrote in a scathing tweet.

‘While an apology is good, the behavior shown in how you treat him publicly needs to be reflected on. You are the CEO of a company and blasted an employee by saying ‘if he can tweet, can work right?’ You jump to the conclusion that the other person must be wrong. Do better,’ another person tweeted.