Elon Musk says he took inspiration from Monty Python for ‘charging for insults and arguments’
(Picture: AP)Twitter owner Elon Musk has claimed the surreal comedy of Monty Python inspired his plan for “charging for insults and arguments” on the social media site.
Many users reacted with outrage after reports that the tech billionaire, who completed his $44 billion (£38 billion) acquisition of the platform last week, plans to charge verified users to retain their blue tick.
It was originally suggested users would pay Musk, the world’s richest man, $20 (£17.40) a month for the privilege but the businessman then said the charge could be $8 (£6.96) during an online exchange with novelist Stephen King.
In a further tweet, he wrote: “To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost 8.”
He then tweeted a link to a sketch by the British comics called Argument where Michael Palin becomes enraged after paying for a five-minute argument with John Cleese.
“Totally stole the idea of charging for insults and arguments from Monty Python tbh,” Musk wrote.
The verification system is currently designed to help users identify authentic and influential users on the platform, including government figures, sport and entertainment stars, and journalists as well as major brands and organisations.
Responding to the initial news users would be charged for their verified status, King had written Twitter “should pay me”, prompting Musk to reply: “We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot entirely rely on advertisers. How about 8?”.
Musk has sought to put his stamp on the firm with moves including appointing himself chief executive and sacking the board.
He has also hinted he could bring back Vine, a short-form video app which was a forerunner of TikTok, and allow users to select a film-style age rating to filter content.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has caused concern given his previous support for loosening content moderation and reversing permanent bans on controversial accounts.
