Elon Musk made headlines this week when he inadvertently punched CNN anchor Don Lemon during a live interview. Musk, CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, was trying to demonstrate a boxing move when he accidentally tripped over a microphone cord and hit Lemon in the face, striking him a punch to the jaw.
Genesius Times posted the headline with screenshots circulating online, but many users failed to recognize that it was meant as a parody article.
What Happened
Elon Musk is widely recognized as the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as one of the richest men on earth. As such, his unique personality shouldn’t come as much of a shock.
Recently, he caused quite a sensation by accidentally punching CNN host Don Lemon during an interview. While trying to demonstrate a boxing move, he accidentally struck Lemon’s neck instead. The incident quickly went viral, prompting many people to speculate as to what exactly was taking place behind-the-scenes.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk responded quickly to Lemon’s story by reaching out and inviting him to start a show on their platform, suggesting it might be worthwhile due to their massive audience size; he did not indicate when or whether this show would air; should it fail, its cancellation may also take effect.
Elon’s response garnered criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. Conservative accounts asserted that Elon was restricting free speech and making Twitter less useful, while progressive media outlets expressed their fear that his successor, Jack Dorsey (ex-NBC Universal executive who promoted DEI/masks), may transform Twitter into an oppressive platform where users are banned for any offense that arises – worrying that she may turn Twitter into an “anti-hate” environment where thought crime may become illegal.
Although the tweet was meant as a joke, some users took offense at it and reported it as violating Twitter’s terms of service. Twitter later apologized to users for this tweet but this incident highlights just how sensitive people can be about what Musk does on his new platform; we shall see whether he can turn it around into something beneficial to its members.
Why It Happened
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, took an unexpectedly shocking turn during a CNN interview when he accidentally punched host Don Lemon in the face, leaving him dazed but continuing speaking on air afterwards joking about surviving an Elon Musk punch.
However, this wasn’t any ordinary prank; this was an act of trolling meant to embarrass Lemon and poke fun at his ego. Trolling is a form of social media commentary in which content designed to provoke viewers is posted with the intention of embarrassing its target. Here, Lemon’s goal was being targeted because he seemed incapable of understanding complex technological concepts properly during an on-air meltdown and an embarrassing failure at comprehending complex technology concepts.
Genesius Times claims to be “the most reliable source of fake news on earth.” Genesius Times’ use of images that did not match CNN’s lower-third format and other visual cues were telltale signs that this article was meant as parody; furthermore, there were no sources or credit information included in it, suggesting it was intended as humor.
While some on the right alleged that Elon Musk threw the punch because he disagreed with Lemon’s views on climate change, this is clearly not the case. They were discussing various topics during their interview including Trump’s tax reform proposal and Tesla’s new electric vehicle; when discussion of potential business venture between Tesla and GM arose.
Elon Musk Unveils Plan to Punch Kanye West
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed his intention of confronting Kanye West over his recent anti-Semitic statements on Twitter, after unbanning him for tweeting an image showing a swastika inside a Star of David which Musk believes violates their rules against incitement to violence. Musk noted that context plays an integral part in determining if posts violate these guidelines; should any offensive tweet come his way promoting violence against Jews then he would take swift action, ban him immediately as well.
What’s the Reaction?
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, made headlines after accidentally striking CNN host Don Lemon during an interview. Musk was trying to demonstrate his boxing skills when he accidentally tripped over a microphone cable and struck Lemon in the face – leaving him dazed and seemingly unaware that an Elon Musk punch had hit. Following this event, many people criticised CNN for its handling of this situation.
Since that incident, Musk has been very critical of CNN and their treatment of him. Not long after purchasing Twitter, he posted a tweet linking to an article supporting an alternative theory about Paul Pelosi’s husband being attacked during a protest rally; many users were quick to criticize this action by accusing Musk of racism and sexism.
Musk has also voiced criticism of how CNN covers stories unrelated to his business interests, specifically regarding their coverage of #StayWoke activism.
Musk’s public criticism of Twitter has cast doubt upon his dedication to free speech and the First Amendment. In March, he published a tweet questioning the platform’s commitment to these values; furthermore, he has lashed out against it for not permitting him to promote his own views on its site.
Elon Musk has voiced his intention to bring his show, The Lean Startup, to Twitter as well. Following Tucker Carlson’s announcement of launching a program there, Musk suggested Lemon bring his program there as well, noting the platform has a much wider reach than cable news shows and would allow him to highlight his work in renewable energy.
Genesius Times article clearly intended as parody; however, many have taken it literally and misinterpreted its contents. Screenshots included in the piece do not match CNN’s typical lower-third format and there are other telltale visual cues which suggest otherwise; nonetheless, its widespread distribution should not be taken as truthful information.
What’s Next?
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shocked studio audiences during a CNN interview when he accidentally struck anchor Don Lemon while trying to demonstrate a boxing move. This caused an uproar within the studio audience and outrage online; however, Musk later apologized and insisted the punch wasn’t intentional.
Not for the first time has the billionaire come into conflict with CNN; last month he issued a Tweet suggesting CNN anchors were censoring him which quickly amassed over 300k likes and was picked up by media.
Musk has previously expressed displeasure with Twitter’s commitment to free speech, while now-owner Nix also asserts that he views Twitter as an essential tool of democracy.
As part of his efforts to appease critics, Musk recently invited one of CNN’s recently fired anchors to host a show on Twitter, suggesting that its audience is much larger than typical CNN viewers.
However, it remains uncertain whether Twitter will accept the offer or not. Twitter has made changes to its user interface and content moderation policies in the past that have drawn criticism from Democrats and media watchdogs alike.
Musk may be known for his eccentricities, but he has an impressive track record of successfully starting and growing startup companies. He cofounded PayPal and Tesla car manufacturer; also owning stakes in several technology businesses like Neuralink and OpenAI; in addition to projects like the Boring Company and Hyperloop transportation system.
Although reports about Elon Musk punting Don Lemon have generated outrage and accusations of assault, most people appear to understand his intentions weren’t malicious; rather he was simply making a statement about civility and violent behavior’s negative impacts on society. Musk clearly cares deeply about making this world a better place and his commitment has made him one of the leading figures in tech.