Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) complained about Elon Musk’s new plan to implement a subscription service of $8/month to retain blue check status on Twitter, and was quickly mocked by the company’s new owner.
The Tesla CEO announced the plan as a means to open up verification on the platform for all users, rather than just a select few special journalists and politicians, while rooting out fake accounts and ‘bots.’
AOC, who once ran Amazon out of New York City resulting in a loss of roughly 40,000 jobs, appeared to believe she knew better than the wealthy businessman.
“Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that ‘free speech’ is actually a $8/mo subscription plan,” she wrote.
Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that “free speech” is actually a $8/mo subscription plan
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 2, 2022
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Musk Fires Back at AOC
Elon Musk wasted little time in responding to AOC’s tweet, completely dismissing her comments.
“Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8,” he wrote.
Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
Musk later trolled the congresswoman by posting an image of a sweatshirt being sold on the ‘Official AOC Team Shop’ for a “mere” $58.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez defended the pricey sweatshirt by saying all employees of the shop are union laborers and receive benefits and a living wage.
She also suggested all proceeds from the shop “go to community acts like tutoring underserved kids.”
My workers are union, have full healthcare + benefits like childcare help, and every one is paid a living wage. Proceeds go to community acts like tutoring underserved kids.
You’re a union buster with an ego problem who pockets the change from underpaying and mistreating people.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022
The site itself contradicts AOC’s claims, stating in the FAQ section that “purchases are campaign contributions” and outlining campaign donation rules that all buyers must consent to.
This is a blatant lie. Proceeds go to your campaign. It’s explicitly stated on the site. https://t.co/HGnwlH18i0 pic.twitter.com/BK2Uepv9JZ
— Rusty (@rustyweiss74) November 3, 2022
RELATED: AOC Shows Up To $30,000 Per Ticket Met Gala Event Wearing A ‘Tax The Rich’ Designer Gown
Tax the Rich Hypocrite
Elon Musk’s rebuttal isn’t the first example of AOC being a hypocrite when it comes to criticism of wealthy entrepreneurs.
Last September she arrived at the Met Gala, where tickets go for as much as $30,000 each, wearing a designer gown with the words “Tax The Rich” written on the back.
The dress was designed by Aurora James who, at the time, owed tens of thousands in back taxes.
The ‘Tax the Rich’ dress designer whom @AOC went to the Met Gala with:
• Owes $103,220 in back taxes
• Received $41,666 in PPP
• Has ‘legions’ of unpaid interns
• Owes $62,722 in workers comp
• Still found $250,000 for a table at the Met Galahttps://t.co/yXsU5eqKwi
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 18, 2021
Musk spent much of his time on Twitter jabbing those who complained about his blue check subscription plan.
He posted a meme pointing out how users are happy to shell out $8 for a frappucino at Starbucks per visit but aren’t thrilled about the $8 fee he is proposing for a month’s worth of service.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
Musk maintains that the subscription blue check service would provide benefits to the user such as “priority in replies, mentions [and] search,” along with “half as many ads.”
Those are perks that were gifted previously to celebrities and politicians for the sole reason of being who they are.
Musk insisted Twitter’s “lords [and] peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark” was “bulls***.”
It’s unclear if the blue check subscription service would still only apply to those accounts serving a public interest making the ‘verification’ status moot.
“To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8,” Musk tweeted.
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