Musk apologizes for mocking and firing Twitter exec with muscular dystrophy

After a tweet alternate the place Twitter CEO Elon Musk questioned a fired former Twitter govt’s disabilities and work efficiency, Musk has issued a uncommon apology and provided to rehire former Senior Director of Product Design Haraldur “Halli” Thorleifsson.

Thorleifsson joined Twitter in 2021, saying on the podcast Quick Politics with Molly Jong-Quick that he determined to let his profitable design company Ueno get acquired by Twitter as a result of he actually believed that, very similar to Musk, Twitter had “by no means lived as much as its potential.” Till his exit from Twitter, Thorleifsson led an innovation workforce at Twitter, however Musk apparently was not conversant in the significant contributions Thorleifsson made to the corporate till after he let Thorleifsson go. Now Musk apparently regrets dismissing Thorleifsson.

“I wish to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his scenario,” Musk tweeted. “It was primarily based on issues I used to be informed that had been unfaithful or, in some instances, true, however not significant.”

In keeping with Musk, Thorleifsson “is contemplating remaining at Twitter.”

Ars couldn’t instantly attain Thorleifsson to substantiate whether or not he’ll seemingly rejoin Twitter. In interviews since his exit, Thorleifsson is focusing much less on Twitter drama and as an alternative selling a brand new restaurant that he’s opening in Iceland in a number of weeks, which can be named after his mom, AnnaJona.

Thorleifsson informed Jong-Quick on her podcast that his mother died in a automotive accident when he was 11 years outdated. After he moved again to the neighborhood the place he grew up, he determined to construct a restaurant in her reminiscence in an exquisite home that got here up on the market that he fondly remembered regularly strolling previous along with his mom as a boy.

Musk regrets tweets about Thorleifsson

Musk’s controversial tweet alternate erupted after Thorleifsson tweeted 9 days after dropping entry to his work laptop, asking Musk to substantiate whether or not or not he had been laid off. Musk responded after 4 hours, saying, “What work have you ever been doing?”

Thorleifsson informed Musk {that a} confidentiality settlement prevented him from describing his Twitter tasks, after which issues appeared to develop into extra heated when Musk instantly granted permission for Thorleifsson to brazenly focus on his work, then responded with two laughing emojis when Thorleifsson tried to do this.

Thorleifsson informed the BBC that shortly after this alternate, he was notified that he’d been fired, and the following day, Musk despatched out a now-deleted tweet, saying of Thorleifsson, “He’s the worst, sorry.”

The subsequent day, Musk lashed out at Thorleifsson once more, tweeting, “The truth is that this man (who’s independently rich) did no precise work, claimed as his excuse that he had a incapacity that prevented him from typing, but was concurrently tweeting up a storm. Can’t say I’ve quite a lot of respect for that.”

Thorleifsson’s company, Ueno, was massively profitable earlier than Twitter acquired it, finishing bold tasks for a lot of main tech firms, from executing novelty tasks like Google’s Santa Tracker to constructing the instruments that help Apple Maps. Thorleifsson, who makes use of a wheelchair, informed Jong-Quick that he had provides from Twitter and different tech firms for years to promote the company, however he by no means significantly thought of it till his muscular dystrophy began progressing, dropping energy in his arms and making it more durable for him to work.

Past turning into a recognizable expertise to prime tech business heads, Thorleifsson additionally advocated on behalf of individuals with disabilities. In Iceland, Thorleifsson was named particular person of the 12 months by a number of media shops in 2022, BBC reported. He was acknowledged for his work campaigning to increase wheelchair entry and his choice to not obtain his Twitter payout as a lump sum however as wages that may very well be taxed to help Iceland’s social companies.

This stellar repute as a devoted employee started haunting Musk, who started backpedaling on his criticism of Thorleifsson after Daniel Houghton—the previous CEO of Lonely Planet, who labored immediately with Thorleifsson on on-line content material and e-commerce platforms—informed Musk, “that is tremendous disappointing to see.”

“Not solely is his work ethic subsequent degree, his expertise and humility are world class,” Houghton informed Musk. “Precisely the type of particular person you need in your workforce when the percentages are stacked. I really feel sure there’s a deep misunderstanding someplace in right here of ‘did no precise work.’”

Houghton’s tweet moved Musk to lastly name Thorleifsson “to determine what’s actual vs what I used to be informed.”

“Higher to speak to individuals than talk through tweet,” Musk admitted.