Elon Musk is no stranger to controversy, and the latest news of his Twitter feud with a New York University professor is yet another example.
Dr. Stuart Reges, a professor of computer science and engineering at NYU, recently reported being locked out of Twitter after declining to meet with Musk. The incident began when someone claiming to be affiliated with Musk’s company, Tesla Motors, asked Professor Reges whether he’d like to have a meeting with Musk. Reges subsequently turned down the offer, prompting Musk himself to tweet that Reges should be “locked out” of Twitter.
It’s not the first time that Musk has come under fire for his controversial social media activity. In July of 2018, he drew criticism after appearing to threaten a journalist on Twitter. Last year, he was also accused of misleading investors when he tweeted about taking Tesla private.
The news of Reges’ lockout sparked a strong reaction from the academic community. NYU faculty members condemned Musk’s behavior, and dozens of students and faculty organized a rally to protest the lockout and express their support for Reges.
Critics of Musk point out that his behavior is unprofessional and unethical. They argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for those in positions of power: if someone in the public eye isn’t willing to agree with Musk or his companies’ decisions, their accounts may be hindered or even deleted.
It remains to be seen how the situation will resolve itself, but one thing is certain: Musk’s behavior has not gone unnoticed. From university faculty members to everyday Twitter users, the lockout of Reges has been met with widespread criticism. Whether it was intentional or not, Musk has exposed himself to a significant amount of backlash—and rightfully so.
