Jack White is the most recent musician to have harsh phrases for Elon Musk following his current acquisition of Twitter. White particularly took umbrage with his resolution (by way of Twitter ballot) to reinstate Donald Trump’s official account, which was suspended following the occasions of January 6. “So you gave trump his twitter platform back,” White wrote. “Absolutely disgusting, Elon. That is officially an asshole move.” White additionally deactivated Third Man Records’ Twitter acount.
“Why dont you be truthful? Tell it like it is; people like you and Joe Rogan (who gives platforms to liars like alex jones etc.),” White continued. “…you come into a ton of money, see the tax bill, despise paying your fair share, and then think moving to Texas and supporting whatever republican you can is going to help you keep more of your money.”
Here’s his full message:
So you gave trump his twitter platform again. Absolutely disgusting, Elon. That is formally an asshole transfer. Why dont you be truthful? Tell it like it’s; individuals such as you and Joe Rogan (who provides platforms to liars like alex jones and so on.); you come right into a ton of cash, see the tax invoice, despise paying your fair proportion, after which suppose transferring to Texas and supporting no matter republican you’ll be able to goes that can assist you maintain extra of your cash. (How else might trump probably curiosity you?) You intend to offer platforms to recognized liars and wash your palms like pontius pilate and declare no accountability? trump was faraway from twitter as a result of he incited violence a number of occasions, individuals died and had been injured on account of his lies and his ego, (not to mention what his coup did to try to destroy democracy and our Capitol). And how in regards to the division and the households damaged aside from his rhetoric and what it did to this nation That’s not “free speech” or “what the poll decided” or no matter nonsense you’re claiming it to be; that is straight up you making an attempt to assist a fascist have a platform so you’ll be able to finally get your tax breaks. I imply, what number of extra billions do you want that you need to threat democracy itself to acquire it?
You did loads of wonderful issues with Tesla, Elon, and also you deserve loads of compliments in that division (i personally supported the hell out of that enterprise), however you’ve gone too far and at the moment are utilizing your energy to advertise horrible, violence inducing liars, who’re taking the nation and the world backwards and endangering the democracy that made you wealthy and profitable within the first place. I’m a believer in free speech, however for instance i’m not about to let the KKK maintain a rally at our report label’s efficiency stage. That’s one of many platforms we management and have a say in, it’s not city sq. operated by the federal government. And if i owned a gasoline station, i wouldn’t be promoting the KKK gasoline to burn crosses both after which wash my palms as if i didn’t assist facilitate hatred.
You took on a giant accountability along with your buy, and “free speech” isn’t some umbrella that protects you from that.
In a touch upon the submit, White added that he’s deactivating Third Man Records’ Twitter:
Shame on you for giving trump and different skilled liars the platform you at the moment are accountable for, and disgrace on anybody who does. And disgrace on you when you suppose it’s no large deal. It is. I’ve by no means had a private twitter account fortunately (it’s principally a sea of negativity when you ask me), however i’ll now be deactivating my report label Third Man Records account from Twitter. Its a disgrace that our label’s artists will lose a social media outlet to advertise their artwork, and that i apologize to our artists for having to do that, however we’re not going to even tangentially help you or this platform that may assist conspiracy spreading liars and out of contact narci-capitalists tear this nation aside, all for trump’s ego and your tax break agenda. (We’ll even be looking at different platforms as properly and determine about them accordingly, however this primary. it’s not straightforward when wanting the perfect for different artists.) And it doesnt matter if trump and/or his mendacity ilk really use the platform once more or not, your message and motives are clear, and exhibiting his previous tweets/lies is proof that you really want that misinformation on the market. For what constructive motive might you probably need that?
You ought to return to utilizing your cash and affect in ways in which assist the world like the electrical automotive did, not in ways in which carry negativity and division to the populace. And no, this isn’t “funny” both Elon, it’s harmful. Enjoy your new discovered energy as a “freedom of speech” purveyor however do not forget that the violence and division that happens based mostly on these tweeting lies is straight associated to you giving them a platform.
Earlier this month, the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor additionally spoke out in opposition to Musk’s administration of Twitter.
Back in 2018, White performed a present for Tesla manufacturing facility staff. He posed for an image with Musk in 2016, and was quoted as saying “he is the Henry Ford of the 21st century.”