Staff Reports
In a surprising turn of events, conservative actor James Woods found himself blocked by none other than Elon Musk, the owner of the popular social media platform “X.” The clash between the two began when Musk announced his decision to remove the ability for users to block other accounts, with the exception of direct messages. Woods, never one to shy away from expressing his opinions, took to the platform to voice his concerns.
Woods expressed his frustration, citing a recent libel suit as the reason for his worry. He claimed to have been targeted by a group of trolls enlisted by the defendant to harass him. He argued that if Musk goes through with this decision, individuals like him, who value sharing their identities, will have no other choice but to retire from the site. The actor also drew parallels between “X” and Twitter, questioning how it would be any different if concerted harassment by trolls or political entities was not addressed.
Is there ever a reason to block vs mute someone?
Give your reasons.
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) August 18, 2023
Even more surprisingly, Woods criticized Musk for being motivated by protecting his advertisers and transforming “X” into an electronic shopping mall. The actor, who once championed Musk’s previous ventures, accused him of prioritizing profit over free speech. Musk, never one to back down, responded to Woods by simply saying, “Then delete your account.” This prompted Woods to share a screenshot showing that Musk had indeed blocked him.
In what seems to be a never-ending exchange of jabs, Musk announced his intention to use the block feature against those who wanted it to remain, in order to prove his point. He found pleasure in blocking those who complained about the removal of the feature and asked, “How does the medicine taste?” This back-and-forth between Woods and Musk left many wondering if there would ever be a resolution to their clash of opinions.
It is notable that Woods has been a vocal supporter of Musk in the past, particularly during the release of Twitter files that revealed the censorship of conservative voices. The actor praised Musk for his efforts, claiming that he may have saved America. Woods expressed admiration for Musk’s dedication to spending money on what he believed was vital for his own survival and well-being. He also commended Musk’s love for the country, pointing out his significant financial investment in Twitter, a platform that was once seen by Democrats as a private site, until Musk took ownership.
Overall, this unexpected showdown between James Woods and Elon Musk on “X” highlights the ongoing tension surrounding the removal of the block feature and raises questions about the platform’s commitment to free speech.
