Some 7.8 million folks have demanded Elon Musk to step down as head of Twitter in a ballot by the outspoken entrepreneur, after a tumultuous few weeks operating the platform that has seen the billionaire advocate free of charge speech whereas transferring to silence a few of his most strident critics.
On his official Twitter account on Sunday, Musk wrote: “Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll.”
Some 56.7 p.c of the 13.78 million votes (round 7.81 million) stated he ought to step down, whereas 43.3 p.c (round 5.97 million) stated he ought to keep within the submit, as of press time.
However, final month, Musk said in courtroom that he would step down and appoint a brand new CEO of the corporate.
Musk, the world’s second richest man, can be CEO at electrical carmaker Tesla, in addition to area firm SpaceX. He additionally leads nanotechnology enterprise Neuralink and The Boring Company, which constructs infrastructure and tunnels.
The businessman purchased Twitter for $44 billion in late October. The deal practically fell by after Musk pulled out of the deal, accusing the social media web site of not being clear concerning the variety of bots and spam accounts on its platform.
Since taking on the social media web site, Musk has attracted controversy over his reforms.
He fired greater than half of Twitter’s employees and allowed again beforehand banned customers, together with former President Donald Trump.
Musk has additionally launched an $8-a-month paid Twitter verification service, which has led to many accounts masquerading as celebrities and politicians.
Last week, he moved to droop a number of accounts of journalists that have been reporting on him, a transfer that was broadly criticized as Musk has lengthy claimed to be an advocate of “free speech.” Musk stated he suspended the accounts of those journalists as a result of they endangered his household by “doxing” or sharing personal data, about his location. Musk later created a ballot on his Twitter account about whether or not the journalists’ suspensions ought to be lifted, and 58.7 p.c stated they need to be, so he lifted the suspension. The journalists have been from retailers together with CNN, The New York Times and the Washington Post.
Tesla buyers have voiced their issues about Musk being on the helm of the social media web site. Shares within the electrical automotive firm have dropped since Musk has been operating Twitter. Since mid-September, Tesla shares have halved from $300 per share to round $150 per share.
I’m a @Tesla investor and I need @elonmusk to get off @Twitter. The worth of my shares has been minimize in half since he made his transfer to take over this platform. I like my Model 3, however he’s killing the corporate together with his antics. https://t.co/lhKI1dHY15
— Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) December 16, 2022
“I’m a @Tesla investor and I need @elonmusk to get off @Twitter. The value of my shares has been cut in half since he made his move to take over this platform. I love my Model 3, but he is killing the company with his antics,” Joe Cirincione tweeted on December 16.
Ross Gerber, an investor in each Tesla and Twitter who supported Musk’s Twitter bid, tweeted the next day: “I think it is in the best interest for tesla shareholders for Elon to be back at Tesla working full time. I hope that he finds a ceo for Twitter in q1 and he makes the transition out of being Twitter ceo. If elected to the BOD I will work to create a clear timeline.”
Newsweek has contacted Twitter for remark.
Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP by way of Getty Images