Comic Kathy Griffin’s Twitter account was suspended Sunday, the identical day she modified her web page’s title to “Elon Musk” and mocked the brand new CEO.
It wasn’t clear whether or not the suspension was everlasting or a direct results of her mockery. It got here as Musk introduced that accounts that impersonate celebrities and different notables could be prohibited until they’re labeled “parody.”
Twitter’s coverage has at all times prohibited impersonation, however the quick motion is new.
Musk would look like the principle beneficiary of his coverage, which could appear to contradict his declare to be a “free speech absolutist.” Examples of suspensions for impersonating different folks with out the “parody” label had been few.
They embody a person whose web page impersonated right-wing provocateur Andy Ngo, who appealed to Musk personally to take motion, and somebody whose web page impersonated actor Keanu Reeves to criticize Musk’s “parody” coverage.
In current days, a wave of Twitter customers modified their web page titles to his and made statements meant to critique his libertarian outlook and tenure on the platform, which he seized by organizing a $44 billion buy.
Griffin used her “Elon Musk” account Sunday to induce People to vote for Democrats within the midterm elections Tuesday to protect abortion rights.
“I’ve determined that voting blue for his or her selection is barely proper,” she wrote as Musk.
Griffin’s spokespeople and Twitter public relations representatives did not instantly reply to requests for remark.
Musk has been extensively criticized for his shaky begin working Twitter after he criticized its content material moderation and promised a brand new period of free speech. Some feared that former President Donald Trump, banned for allegedly inciting his supporters’ violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, could be allowed to return.
Musk mentioned final week, nevertheless, that those that have been prohibited had been unlikely to return.
He additionally shortly minimize the Twitter workforce, anticipated to be diminished by 3,700 staff, to almost half its dimension, and, within the course of, diminished the corporate’s skill to watch disinformation and propaganda. Lies and disingenuous memes on social media have poisoned U.S. elections within the final seven years.
Bloomberg reported Sunday that Twitter is attempting to rehire a number of the laid-off staff, discovering that some could be essential to roll out a few of Musk’s new initiatives. Bloomberg’s reporting was based mostly on two unnamed sources accustomed to the corporate’s personnel scenario.
Solely three days after having taken over Twitter underneath the thought he may each broaden free speech and police disinformation, Musk tweeted a publication’s wholly unfounded story concerning the assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggesting, “There’s a tiny risk there may be extra to this story than meets the attention.”
Musk’s plan to cost $8 a month for verified accounts for nearly anybody, VIPs to the typical particular person, riled up a lot of his celeb customers who loved the standing related to having the location’s iconic blue test mark on their pages.
That seems to be a part of what impressed many to modify their web page names to Elon Musk. By utilizing the photographs he makes use of on his web page, the accounts seemed to be his, save for his or her handles and URLs.
On Sunday, comic Sarah Silverman tweeted that her account had been locked a number of instances since Musk took over Oct. 27.
She participated within the wave of Musk impersonations, tweeting underneath his title, “I’m a freedom of speech absolutist and I eat doody for breakfast on daily basis.”
Ben Collins contributed.
