After issuing a bizarre ultimatum that gave Twitter employees the option of working “extremely hardcore” for Elon Musk or receive three months severance, at least half of the remaining staffers reportedly chose the door. The situation deteriorated so badly that Musk reportedly locked down Twitter headquarters out of fear that the employee mass exodus would lead to intentional sabotage. However, Musk’s biggest concern should be how long the site will last now that the employees who man critical systems are now gone.
Via CNN:
A former Twitter executive, who recently exited the company, described the situation as a “mass exodus.” Asked about the situation, the former executive said, “Elon is finding out that he can’t bully top senior talent. They have lots of options and won’t put up with his antics.”
“They will struggle just to keep the lights on,” the former executive added.
As employees shared details with reporters or tweeted out screenshots of internal Slack messages on Thursday evening, #RIPTwitter started to trend along with several hashtags pointing towards an imminent collapse. Adding insult to injury, someone set up a projector that scrolled a trail of insults on the Twitter building. The text called Musk a “lawless oligarch, space Karen, mediocre manchild, worthless billionaire.”
A scrolling message outside Twitter's San Francisco headquarters has called @elonmusk a "lawless oligarch, space Karen, mediocre manchild, worthless billionaire" and more @6NewsAU pic.twitter.com/PyXz0YaZmF
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) November 18, 2022
As video of the projector insults made its way around the Twitter platform, “Space Karen” became a breakout hit despite the endless stream of users posting send-offs in the face of an imminent collapse. Even in its possibly final hours, Twitter couldn’t resist a well-made insult, particularly one aimed at the man who did so much damage in so short amount of time.
You can see reactions to Space Karen below while still Twitter is somehow still working:
I think 'Space Karen' is my favourite 🤣 https://t.co/glogEuvGvS
— Sue Perkins 💙 (@sueperkins) November 18, 2022
Space Karen went so hardcore tonight he locked himself out of his own building and had to call a guy he had just fired to let him back in.
— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) November 18, 2022
"Space Karen"
If I hadn't fired everyone, I'd want to talk to a manager https://t.co/2E6XV1hd9Z— Elon Musk (Parody) (@RobertsOhioD6) November 18, 2022
Space Karen will always be funny 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CSw5ox3Whg
— Ciara Lashay (@CiCi_Lashay2) November 18, 2022
From this day forward, Elon Musk will forever be known as…
Space Karen. 🔥🚀
— Ryan Pinesworth ™️ (@RyanPinesworth) November 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/1scrummymummy/status/1593440813626761216
Good morning to everyone who puts space Karen and Jack Dorsey in the same worthless billionaire category. pic.twitter.com/zcQa959RrS
— Lynda hates GOP thugs (@IvanasStairCam) November 18, 2022
Damn. They all hit, but "space Karen" is a fucking world-ending meteor. https://t.co/S6On9SNrvL
— Zachary Elawar (@ZElawar) November 18, 2022
(Via CNN)