“So many damn unfit people saying hate speech is free speech”: LeBron James Blasts Elon Musk as Twitter Witnesses Historic Rise in Racist Slurs
Recently reports have emerged that there has been a huge increase in hate speech on Twitter. This came up after the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk on Friday, October 28. Authentic research institute reports show that there was a 500% rise in hate speeches from the average. Also according to the reports, around 300 anonymous troll accounts have emerged since the new takeover by Tesla CEO. The hate speeches included the N-word and Nazi memes.
After that, NBA star LeBron James used his platform to call out Twitter and its handling of hate speeches. He mentioned Elon Musk (the new owner of Twitter) and how he and his team needed to look into the matter.
Twitter Takeover By Elon Musk and Hate Speech Rise
Following the acquisition of Twitter by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the platform has witnessed a sudden surge in hate speeches. Research data have shown the rise of racist slurs by a big percentage. According to a study by Network Contagious Research Institute (NCRI), there was a 500% rise in the use of the N-word on Twitter. Also just after the takeover by Musk, there emerged at least 300 anonymous troll accounts. Since then there have been more than 50,000 troll tweets.
Furthermore, according to the Washington Post, most of the troll tweets included racial slurs such as the N-word and even Nazi memes.
These Twitter trolls are testing the limits of new policies under the SpaceX CEO. Musk left people concerned after he showed a very relaxed attitude toward the ‘content moderation’ policies of Twitter before his takeover. However, shortly before his acquisition of Twitter was announced he did issue a public letter. In the letter addressed to advertisers, he assured that Twitter was not going to be a ‘free-for-all hellscape’. The business mogul’s first tweet after the takeover was “The Bird is Free” but he did assure that there would be consequences for hate speeches.
Musk began to buy Twitter shares gradually in January and in October he became the largest shareholder of the Social Media platform. And with the 44 billion dollar deal Musk has now taken a complete takeover of Twitter. It was finalized on 28 October 2022.
LeBron James Speaks out on the Hate Speech Rise on Twitter
The uptick in hate speeches on Twitter has left many people concerned. One of them is the famous NBA player LeBron James. He expressed his concern recently after the research reports started coming out. He shared that he did not know Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter. And to him, it did not matter who owned the social media platform. James explained that the recent surge in hate speech was concerning to him, stating,
“I don’t know Elon Musk and, tbh, I couldn’t care less who owns Twitter. But I will say that if this is true, I hope he and his people take this very seriously because this is scary AF.”
Further, referring to the research reports, the NBA player shared his thoughts saying, ” So many damn unfit people saying hate speech is free speech,” Lebron Tweeted.
I dont know Elon Musk and, tbh, I could care less who owns twitter. But I will say that if this is true, I hope he and his people take this very seriously because this is scary AF. So many damn unfit people saying hate speech is free speech. https://t.co/Sy0jvXIBnC
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 29, 2022
The NBA player does not know Musk personally and the two have hardly ever been linked. However, the Twitter issue could put them at odds with each other.
Source: People.com
