Elon Musk, who recently declared he was helping to increase the world's population after news broke that he was having twins, touted a new endeavor on social media that left people wincing.
When a shirtless photo of him on vacation went viral, Musk suggested he should "free the nip."
The unflattering photo, posted by the Twitter account @Teslaconomics, revealed the SpaceX CEO in all his pasty glory with a white towel cinched around his waist.
The tweet's caption, which reeked of sarcasm, read:
“F'k yea I got my $ behind this man. So so many other smart investors.”
@Teslaconomics/Twitter
Internet sleuthing revealed Musk was on a luxury yacht near the Greek island of Mykonos during a recent vacation.
When the tweet went viral it eventually caught the attention of Musk, who responded with:
“Haha damn, maybe I should take off my shirt more often … free the nip!!"
In case anyone was wondering, he added he was "already back in the factory btw.”
Haha damn, maybe I should take off my shirt more often … free the nip!!
(already back in the factory btw)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 18, 2022
\u201c@elonmusk @Teslaconomics Free the titties #NFTCommmunity \ud83d\udc40\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
People who couldn't unsee the image of the 51-year-old business magnate had negative responses to his declaration to "free the nip."
\u201cPlease dont.\u201d— Jonathan Carlson (@Jonathan Carlson) 1658185119
\u201c@elonmusk @Teslaconomics No, it's OK.\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
\u201cCan his assistant take away his phone please\u201d— Antifa Supersoldier (@Antifa Supersoldier) 1658186940
Some users thought his appearance in the photo was way beyond the pale.
@Pleightx/Twitter
\u201cThar she blows!\n#ElonMusk #MaybeDick\u201d— Tarquin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Tarquin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1658220908
\u201c@Teslaconomics The Engineer\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
@edwardrussl/Twitter
\u201c@elonmusk @Teslaconomics\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
\u201cWho needs a movie screen anymore?\u201d— Paul Leigh \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I Stand w/Ukraine & Democracy (@Paul Leigh \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I Stand w/Ukraine & Democracy) 1658277074
\u201cStay Puft Elon!\u201d— Tarquin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Tarquin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1658217232
And some users pointed out the investor's double standard seen from a past tweet.
\u201c@Dolphin517 @JWranglerood @elonmusk @Teslaconomics I know he looks like boiled chicken meat.\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
\u201c@elonmusk @Teslaconomics https://t.co/uIVpB0N3X6\u201d— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) 1658171449
None— \u018eI\u22ca\u0376OM\u2143\u2143\u018eH (@\u018eI\u22ca\u0376OM\u2143\u2143\u018eH) 1658273607
\u201chttps://t.co/g6P1vIAgiI\u201d— Paul Leigh \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I Stand w/Ukraine & Democracy (@Paul Leigh \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I Stand w/Ukraine & Democracy) 1658332946
The ridicule aimed at Musk comes after he unilaterally terminated his proposed acquisition of Twitter, prompting the American social media company to legally force him into completing the agreed-upon $44 billion takeover.
Twitter's lawyers wrote Musk, asserting the "agreement is not terminated." They alleged in a filing that the Tesla CEO "knowingly, intentionally, willfully, and materially breached" his agreement to buy the company.
When Twitter officially launched its lawsuit against Musk on July 12, he reportedly quipped, "Oh the irony lol."