What�s that going up in flames? Why, it�s Elon Musk�s reputation | Arwa Mahdawi

Elon Musk, a man known for his various talents, seems to have acquired a unique skill: resurrecting people from the dead on Twitter. Over the weekend, several notable figures, including Anthony Bourdain, Hugo Chávez, and Jamal Khashoggi, suddenly had "blue checkmarks" appear on their inactive Twitter accounts. Clicking on the checkmark revealed that these accounts had provided their phone numbers and agreed to pay $8 a month for Twitter Blue subscription services. It appears that even in the afterlife, people are signing up for Twitter's paid features.

The rollout of Twitter Blue, however, was far from smooth. Previously, the blue tick verification symbol indicated notable individuals recognized by Twitter. Elon Musk changed that by removing blue ticks from accounts and offering to restore them only in exchange for payment. As a result, the blue tick lost its status, becoming more of a stigma than an honour. When the checks mysteriously reappeared on high-profile and living figures like Stephen King and LeBron James, they quickly clarified that they hadn't paid for the badge and wouldn't do so even if they were asked.

Amidst the Twitter fiasco, Elon Musk's SpaceX was launching the Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful ever built. However, the launch ended in an explosion and debris scattered over the Texas coast. Despite this, Musk and his team insisted the event was a success, using the term "rapid unscheduled disassembly" to describe it.

Another aspect facing scrutiny is Musk's claims of being a self-made billionaire without any assistance from family wealth tied to a Zambian emerald mine. His father, Errol Musk, revealed in an interview that there was indeed an emerald mine, though it was an informal arrangement from Zambia's past. This revelation contradicts Elon's repeated denials and adds to the complexity of their strained relationship.

Overall, Elon Musk's recent endeavours have been raising eyebrows and challenging his reputation as a visionary entrepreneur. Some now see him as an incompetent narcissist, and his brand's image is facing significant scrutiny. The rapid unscheduled disassembly of his reputation seems to be underway.