Twitter reportedly enters takeover talks with Elon Musk

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIs Elon Musk getting cold feet over his $44 billion bid for Twitter — or is he just trying to drive the price tag down?Early Friday, the mega-billionaire tweeted that his deal for the social network was “temporarily on hold,” citing the need to conduct due diligence on Twitter’s claim that fake and spam accounts represent less than 5% of its active user base. He linked to a Reuters story based on Twitter’s latest quarterly 10-Q with the information.However, that disclosure has been in Twitter’s SEC filings for years — literally since the company first went public in 2013.

Naman Ramachandran The Twitter deal is temporarily on hold, billionaire Elon Musk posted on Friday.“Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” Musk posted on Twitter.Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of usershttps://t.co/Y2t0QMuuyn— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2022In the tweet, Musk provided a link to a May 2 Reuters article quoting Twitter’s filing on Monday. “Twitter Inc estimated in a filing on Monday that false or spam accounts represented fewer than 5% of its monetizable daily active users during the first quarter,” the Reuters piece said.Musk has been vocal about cleaning the platform of spam bots.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDevin Nunes, the former congressman who is now CEO of Donald Trump’s social-media rival to Twitter, claimed that his new boss “encouraged” tech mogul Elon Musk to acquire Twitter, to “take on these tech tyrants.”Musk says that’s false.“I’ve had no communication, directly or indirectly, with Trump, who has publicly stated that he will be exclusively on Truth Social,” Musk tweeted Friday, replying to a New York Post article about Nunes’ claims.In an appearance Wednesday on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co,” Nunes said, “President Trump, basically before Elon Musk bought it, actually said to go and buy it because the goal of our company is really to build a community where people are in a family-friendly, safe environment.” Nunes added, “we encouraged Elon Musk to buy” Twitter, because “someone has to take on these tech tyrants… Donald Trump wanted to make sure that the American people got their voice back and that the internet was open and that’s what we are doing.” Nunes, who is CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, once sued Twitter, seeking $250 million in damages, alleging in part he was defamed by anonymous parody accounts “Devin Nunes’ Mom” and “Devin Nunes’ Cow.” A judge threw out the case.Musk has said he’s primarily interested in protecting “free speech” on Twitter, and he has criticized the company for allegedly having a left-leaning political bias. That stance has led right-wingers — who have long alleged Twitter (and other internet platforms) somehow stifle conservative viewpoints — to champion Musk’s $44 billion bid for Twitter.Twitter permanently banned Trump shortly after the Jan.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSpotify CEO Daniel Ek revealed that he is putting his money where his mouth is, releasing a Twitter message announcing that he will invest $50 million in the music streaming company.“I’ve always been vocal about my strong belief in Spotify and what we are building. So I am putting that belief into action this week by investing $50M in $SPOT.

The method behind the mega-purchase. Elon Musk made headlines around the world when he bought Twitter — and now he’s explaining why he did it.

Elon Musk brought a very special lady to this year's Met Gala — his mom, Maye Musk, and the pair seemed to have a great time at the star-studded celebration of fashion.This year's Met Gala accompanies the second part of the Costume Institute's exhibition, «In America: An Anthology of Fashion,» with the controversial theme «Gilded Glamour and White Tie.» The concept is a homage to the United States' Gilded Age, an era of immense economic growth and major industrialization, as well as massive income inequality, political upheaval, and post-Civil War racism.Musk himself has been at the center of some controversy recently and has faced criticism for his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, with critics chastising him for not spending that money on philanthropic efforts.Speaking with ET's Rachel Smith on the carpet the the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday, Musk defended the acquisition, arguing, «I do a lot of things philanthropically.»«Really, my companies are intended to do good for the future of humanity,» he continued. «With Tesla trying to accelerate the advances in sustainable transport and energy and SpaceX is um providing internet to the lesser [served] people of the world.»«We are able to help Ukraine with the Starlink terminals and give connectivity, particularly in some of the hardest hit areas,» Musk added.

Grimes called out Twitter’s “issues with public mental health” just days after her on-and-off again boyfriend Elon Musk announced he’d reached a deal to purchase the social media platform for $44bn. Canadian singer Grimes speaks with MIT podcast host Lex Fridman on his show, Lex Fridman Podcast.

As witnesses continue to take the stand or testify via video in the ongoing Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, it was recently revealed that two celebrities — James Franco and Elon Musk — will no longer be testifying in the case.  The witness list for the trial, which is expected to last six weeks, originally included Musk and Franco. However, Musk's lawyer confirmed to Fox News Digital that the Tesla CEO would not take the stand.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorTwitter, which this week accepted a deal to go private in a $44 billion sale to Elon Musk, reported income a touch lighter than Wall Street predicated in the first quarter of 2022. But the social network blew away forecasts on earnings and user growth.Q1 revenue was $1.20 billion, up 16% year-over-year, reflecting “headwinds associated with the war in Ukraine,” according to Twitter.

It appears Elon Musk will not be testifying in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial.  While Musk has been subpoenaed to hand over any and all communication he had with Heard about the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, the tech boss will not be taking the stand on Heard's behalf.  Musk’s attorney, Alex Spiro, told Fox News Digital Wednesday his client will not testify.  During his testimony, Depp claimed he believed the Tesla boss was seeing his ex-wife while Depp and Heard were married.  A source with knowledge of the trial also claimed to the New York Post that James Franco, 44, will also be absent from the witness stand. Depp has also claimed Franco and Heard had an affair during Depp and Heard's marriage.  Reps for Franco did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Elon Musk name-dropped So, how does Musk factor into the Depp-Heard trial? Court documents claim that Heard began a romantic relationship with Musk just one month after the "Aquaman" actress, 35, tied the knot with Depp, 58.

Tesla head’s divisive $44 billion takeover of Twitter Monday. Rogan heaped praise on the billionaire during a Tuesday episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” with guest Jessica Kirston.“Oh s–t, oh s–t, Elon Musk just bought Twitter,” gushed the former “Fear Factor” host, who has received fierce backlash over his alleged anti-vaxxer comments, among other controversies.

The Tesla mogul and richest man in the world made a surprise offer to buy the social media platform putting in a succesful bid of $54. 20 a share to acquire it which the board accepted. “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Mr Musk said in a statement.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorTwitter is now in Elon Musk’s hands. What his successful maneuver to buy the company means for its 200 million-plus users — or for media and entertainment companies that use the platform to reach global audiences — is anything but clear.In the space of three weeks, Musk went from disclosing a 9.2% stake in Twitter to clinching a $44 billion deal for the company on April 25.

FX’s The New York Times Presents has set its latest documentary feature, centered on controversial Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Elon Musk is nearing a deal to buy Twitter, a television documentary about the polarizing businessman has been announced to premiere this May.Titled “Elon Musk’s Crash Course,” the upcoming film is the latest in FX and The New York Times’ collaborative documentary series “The New York Times Presents,” which provides in depth looks at prominent people and events, ranging from Janet Jackson to Juul to the 2020 Australian bushfire disasters. The series is best known for its two in-depth films about Britney Spears, “Framing Britney Spears” and “Controlling Britney Spears,” which helped contribute to the eventual end of the singer’s conservatorship.Directed by Emma Schwartz, “Elon Musk’s Crash Course” is an exposé into Musk’s company Tesla, and its work on self-driving cars.