Yet again, musk-openai-sam-altman-court/”>another legal battle ensues involving Elon Musk. This time, four previous Twitter executives, including former CEO Parag Agrawal, have initiated a lawsuit against Musk on Monday, claiming they are entitled to over $128 million in severance payments.
Musk’s Controversial Takeover of Twitter
Upon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now known as X), one of his initial actions as the new owner was to dismiss Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, and attorneys Sean Edgett and Vijaya Gadde. The lawsuit alleges that Musk harbors a “distinct animosity” towards these former executives, who strived to ensure Musk honored his $44 billion commitment when he attempted to withdraw. The lawsuit cites Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk, which includes a quote from Musk stating he would “pursue every single one” of Twitter’s C-suite “until the end of their days.”
Musk’s Public Criticism of Former Executives
Musk has been particularly outspoken in his criticism of Gadde, who played a significant role in several notable content moderation decisions on Twitter. Following his proposal to purchase Twitter, he shared memes ridiculing the executive, which incited a series of racially charged online harassments against her.
Unpaid Severance and Legal Battles
It’s not just these executives who are still waiting for their severance pay. Musk has been the target of numerous lawsuits from former Twitter employees who are also awaiting their severance. Under Musk’s leadership, the company has ceased paying rent on some of its offices, resulting in even more legal disputes and evictions.
Allegations of Misconduct
As per the lawsuit, Musk accused these executives of “gross negligence” and “willful misconduct” in their termination letters, yet failed to provide any proof to substantiate his claims.
“This is typical of Musk: to withhold the money he owes to others, and compel them to take legal action against him,” the lawsuit states. “Even if he loses, Musk can still inflict delay, inconvenience, and financial burden on those less capable of bearing it.”