Twitter Layoffs Hoax, Duo Posing As Laid Off Employees Trick Reporters

No, Rahul Ligma is NOT among the many Twitter staff axed by the hen app’s new proprietor, Elon Musk … some media shops had been merely duped by 2 males posing as laid off staff.

Two males carrying cardboard bins appeared Friday exterior Twitter HQ in San Francisco, claiming Papa Elon had simply laid them off … and regardless of some crimson flags, reporters had been fast to run with what they thought was a giant story associated to Elon’s massive buy.

One of the pranksters instructed reporters, together with CNBC’s Deidre Bosa, his title was “Rahul Ligma,” which most people versed in Twitter replies would know is a reference to an web meme.

For the uninitiated — we’re taking a look at you, Deirde — Ligma units up a joke for “Ligma Balls.” Lick. My. Balls. In addition to CNBC, Bloomberg ran headlines Friday saying laid off Twitter staff had been leaving company with bins in hand.

Another hoax sufferer was native TV information reporter Suzanne Phan of ABC7 Bay Area, who tweeted video of the media scrum with Mr. Ligma … who instructed falsely instructed reporters he was fired throughout a Zoom assembly and did not know the place he would work subsequent.

The pranksters littered their interviews with unusual popular culture references … “Ligma” was holding Michelle Obama‘s e-book as he exclaimed, “Michelle Obama wouldn’t have occurred if Elon Musk owned Twitter.”

Britney Spears was additionally name-dropped … the pranksters claimed they had been apprehensive about the way forward for democracy and “movie star conservatorship” with Elon proudly owning Twitter. They additionally instructed reporters they drove Tesla automobiles and did not know if they might have the ability to make any extra funds.

There was tons of hypothesis about layoffs as Elon closed the deal … however in actuality, the one Twitter staff being axed, no less than to date, are some execs who’re going to make a killing off their departures.