Since taking over Twitter last month, it seems new owner Elon Musk has been facing disaster after self-inflicted disaster. His aim to make Twitter more profitable has only resulted in failed attempts, leaving Twitter less valuable by the billions and Musk with barely a workforce.
After laying off half of Twitter's employees upon his acquisition, Musk then began to pick off employees who dared to challenge his blame of the platform's slow speed in many countries on the engineers.
These are in addition to the dozens of terminated employees whose "recent behavior violated company policy" when messages on the company's internal Slack were less than loyal to the new CEO.
On Thursday, Musk issued an ultimatum to the remaining employees:
"Going forward, to build a breakthrough Twitter 2.0 and succeed in an increasingly competitive world, we will need to be extremely hardcore."
"This will mean working long hours at high intensity."
"Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade."
Employees were given a very short timeframe and a firm deadline to decide.
"If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below."
"Anyone who has not done so by 5pm ET tomorrow (Thursday) will receive three months of severance."
Fearing a substantial exit and, consequently, internal sabotage, Musk locked down the Twitter headquarters.
CNN reported a former Twitter executive who recently exited the company, described the situation as a 'mass exodus.'
The former executive said:
"Elon is finding out that he can't bully top senior talent. They have lots of options and won't put up with his antics."
"They will struggle just to keep the lights on."
Unfortunately for Musk, he did not consider the possibility of external sabotage.
Just as #RIPTwitter and other doomsday hashtags began to spread through the world wide web, someone fashioned a projector to scroll insults at Musk's expense across the exterior of the Twitter HQ building.
The projections referred to Musk as a lawless oligarch, space Karen, mediocre manchild, worthless billionaire, and petty racist, among others.
\u201cA scrolling message outside Twitter's San Francisco headquarters has called @elonmusk a "lawless oligarch, space Karen, mediocre manchild, worthless billionaire" and more @6NewsAU \nhttps://t.co/PyXz0YaZmF\u201d— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leonardo Puglisi) 1668739280
It didn't take long for the hashtag #spacekaren to blast off.
\u201cI think 'Space Karen' is my favourite \ud83e\udd23\u201d— Sue Perkins \ud83d\udc99 (@Sue Perkins \ud83d\udc99) 1668770672
\u201cFrom this day forward, Elon Musk will forever be known as\u2026\n\nSpace Karen. \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude80\u201d— Ryan Pinesworth\u2122\ufe0f (@Ryan Pinesworth\u2122\ufe0f) 1668749894
\u201cGood morning to everyone who puts space Karen and Jack Dorsey in the same worthless billionaire category.\u201d— Lynda Straffin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Lynda Straffin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1668779387
“In space, there is no manager to complain to…” #SpaceKaren pic.twitter.com/u0ZSxXWuw2
— Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@lauferlaw) November 20, 2022
\u201cSpace Karen will always be funny \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\u201d— Ciara Lashay (@Ciara Lashay) 1668740093
\u201c#SpaceKaren\n\nHats off to SpaceX Karen, oops, I mean Space Karen\u201d— Sticking A. Round \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 2022 (@Sticking A. Round \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 2022) 1668755678
\u201cWhy does this look like the a poster for the worst movie in history? \ud83d\ude02\n\n"He saw a vision to produce the deadliest car ever. He saw a vision for life on Mars. Now he wants to see THE MANAGER". \n\nComing March 17th 2023 it's... SPACE KAREN! #Twittershutdown #SpaceKaren\u201d— Yellow Bean Bag (@Yellow Bean Bag) 1668783187
\u201c@JDCocchiarella It\u2019s happening.. . \ud83d\ude02 #spacekaren\u201d— Jack Cocchiarella (@Jack Cocchiarella) 1668739926
\u201cwe made it #SpaceKaren\u201d— the artist formerly known as trekonomics (@the artist formerly known as trekonomics) 1668744667
\u201cWatching everyone on Twitter having a blast watching #SpaceKaren implode Twitter is the most fun Twitter has been in a long time.\u201d— Adam L (@Adam L) 1668776093
Though Twitter may be taking its final breaths, we are more than delighted that it could provide us with some final moments of entertainment with the wonder that is #SpaceKaren.
\u201cIf this is the last thing I see on Twitter, it will have been worth it.\n\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\n#SpaceKaren\u201d— EdnaK - Soros Payroll Mgr. (@EdnaK - Soros Payroll Mgr.) 1668744554
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