Writer Stephen King has hit back at Elon Musk for “putting his personal mark on everything” after the billionaire said King was “naming X.”
The 76-year-old writer had refused to call the social media site formerly known as Twitter X by its new name X, prompting Musk to respond.
On Wednesday, King posted: “According to the New York Times, terrorists may be paying for blue checkmarks on Twitter (I refuse to call it X).”
In response, Musk appeared to make an anti-transgender joke, replying: “Stop naming X. Respect our transition.”
Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender person’s former name without their consent.
The 76-year-old writer had refused to call the social network formerly known as Twitter X by its new name X, prompting Musk to respond.
The fight between the two on Wednesday was not the first time that two heads collided on the platform.
In response, Musk appeared to make an anti-transgender joke, replying: “Stop naming X. Respect our transition.”
King had been referring to a Times story about a Tech Transparency Project report that found X was “potentially violating U.S. sanctions.”
The report highlighted that they had been accepting payments from “accounts including Hezbollah leaders and Houthi groups.”
In a statement to Variety, X said: “Our teams have reviewed the report and will take action if necessary.”
“We are always committed to ensuring we maintain a secure and compliant platform.”
King then reposted on X and said: ‘Dear Elon, Twitter. Twitter, Twitter. Twitter, Twitter, Twitter. Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, Twitter. Etc. Fuck your need to put your personal brand on everything.
The author then added: “Just because you bought it doesn’t mean you own it.”
The dispute between the two on Wednesday was not the first time that two people collided on the platform.
In 2022, the two clashed after King responded to a report highlighting how Musk was going to charge for blue checkmarks.
In 2022, the two clashed after King responded to a report highlighting how Musk was going to charge for blue checkmarks.
The best-selling author, nicknamed the King of Horror, has sold more than 350 million copies of books worldwide.
King tweeted: ‘Fuck it, they should pay me.’ “If that is instituted, I will be gone like Enron.” And he added: “It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.”
Musk at the time responded to King by saying, ‘We have to pay the bills somehow!’ Twitter cannot depend entirely on advertisers. How about $8 (per month)?’
King notes on his website that he is a Democrat and is open about his political views on the platform.
The bestselling author has sold more than 350 million copies of books worldwide, and books such as IT, Carrie, The Shining and Green Mile have been made into blockbuster films.
On Wednesday, Musk announced that he had moved the incorporation status of his company SpaceX from Delaware to Texas.
The move came after Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick voided Musk’s compensation package from Tesla, which helped make him the richest person in the world.
The ruling arose from a lawsuit filed by a shareholder, who said Musk’s ties to the directors who negotiated the $56 billion package were not disclosed.
The plan had a maximum value of $55.8 billion and a fair value of $2.6 billion on the grant date, making it by far the largest CEO pay package in corporate history.
McCormick in his ruling found that the process that led to the board’s approval of his 2018 compensation package was “deeply flawed” because of how close Musk was to some of his members.
