Elon Musk likes to be at the center of conversations -- and of controversy. He in fact tries to put himself there, and works best when he's back to the wall.
The entrepreneur seems to revel in being alone against all or when he takes on the institutions and the establishment. Provoking is part of his brand; he sees himself as a kind of revolutionary, on a mission to shake up social norms and conventions.
He delights in the reactions and outrage he causes every time he gets into a spat with those who have power and influence.
Elon Musk Takes on Stephen King
Few people -- whether politicians, scientists, celebrities -- are safe from his punches. A few do because he respects them. This is the case with the renowned writer Stephen King. The billionaire never responded to King, after the author took Musk to task over his handling of Twitter.
While King considers the Musk innovative, the author of horror novels has sharpened his criticism of the executive, who has transformed Twitter into a center of conservative discussion.
"Pretty soon the only advertiser left on Twitter will be My Pillow," King mockingly said last November.
"Is My Pillow actually a great pillow? Now I’m curious," Musk responded.
That month King also said of Musk that he's "a visionary. Almost singlehandedly, he’s changed the way Americans think about automobiles. I have a Tesla and love it. That said, he’s been a terrible fit for Twitter. He appears to be making it up as he goes along."
"Suggestions are welcome Mr. 👑" Musk responded.
Now, after not responding to King's criticism, Musk appears to have had enough.
It all started with the billionaire's decision to offer the writer Twitter Blue free of charge. Blue is Twitter's subscription service, which gives subscribers the famous check mark to authenticate the identity of the author of the account.
Before Musk acquired the social network, the check mark was free. It was awarded mainly to celebrities, politicians, organizations and journalists who used the platform to promote their efforts.
'How Much Have You Donated?': Musk to King
The feature now costs $7.99 a month for individuals and $1,000 a month for organizations.
Musk had set an April 20 deadline by which holders of legacy check marks could subscribe to Blue or would lose the blue badges. Many organizations and celebrities, including King, said they wouldn't pay, despite the risk that their identities on the platform could be stolen by bad actors.
To everyone's surprise Musk decided to make exceptions by paying for some check-mark holders. King was one of them.
The billionaire, who thought he was doing a good deed, seems to have misjudged the situation.
King has just told Musk that he would be better off donating the money he is paying to a nonprofit to help Ukraine as it battles Russia.
"I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity,” the writer tweeted on April 22. “I recommend the Prytula Foundation, which provides lifesaving services in Ukraine. It's only $8, so perhaps Mr. Musk could add a bit more.”
Musk scathingly responded to this thinly veiled criticism. reminding the author of "Dead Zone" that he had personally helped Ukraine and that his SpaceX company was providing one of its flagship technology products to the country for free.
"I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?” the billionaire challenged King on April 23. "(We turned down the DoD money btw).”
Musk refers to the U.S. Defense Department, which provides logistical aid to Ukraine via NATO.
And he indirectly refers to Starlink, the satellite internet access service developed by SpaceX. This service has become the communications system of the Ukrainian armed forces on the front, according to the billionaire and the Ukrainian authorities, after Moscow destroyed the country's infrastructure.
After a controversy last October over the funding of this crucial aid, Musk had decided that his company would fully cover the cost of the service.
"Musk has given $100 million to Ukrainian charities. Excellent. Slava Ukraini!" King quipped.
At last check, the writer still had his blue check mark.
