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Musk mocked for trying to resurrect QAnon Pizzagate conspiracy following fake headline
Musk mocked for trying to resurrect QAnon Pizzagate conspiracy following fake headline
Elon Musk has been criticised for seemingly attempting to resurrect the widely debunked QAnon conspiracy theory, “Pizzagate”. Pizzagate was an anti-Hillary Clinton conspiracy theory promoted on 4chan, Reddit, Twitter and other platforms in the final days before the 2016 US presidential election, and is seen as a precursor to the QAnon movement. Believers accused then presidential hopeful Ms Clinton and other senior Democrats of running a child sex trafficking ring out of the basement of a Washington DC pizza restaurant. The conspiracy theory led to a shooting at the restaurant – which turned out not to have a basement. On Tuesday the billionaire tech entrepreneur shared a meme from from the US television comedy The Office on his social media platform X on Tuesday, which accused the “experts” that had debunked the theory of themselves being paedophiles. The post, which was not labelled with a correctional “community note”, made reference to former ABC journalist James Gordon Meek who pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse image charges earlier this year. “Does seem at least a little bit suspicious,” Mr Musk wrote, also linking to an article about Meek’s guilty plea. Other X users suggested that Mr Musk had fallen for a fake New York Post headline which was circulated on the platform that associated Meek with the debunking of Pizzagate. The former journalist was not involved in the exposing of the conspiracy theory, according to a fact check by the Reuters news agency. “So... Community notes? He’s just wildly transparent,” wrote one user. Another added: “Man who controls Twitter/X and, while we’re on it, a majority of the earth’s satellites, among other things, sharing a *wildly* debunked conspiracy theory. “We don’t just have "experts" – we *know* it was invented on 4chan. This is flirting with some incredibly dangerous stuff.” Shayan Sardarizadeh, of the BBC Verify team, wrote in response: “The meme shared by Elon Musk about the pizzagate conspiracy theory is itself based on the completely false claim… “... that James Gordon Meek, a journalist who recently pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, had debunked pizzagate. Meek never reported on pizzagate.” Another BBC disinformation journalist, Alistair Coleman added: “Your regular reminder that Pizzagate was created as a joke on a 4Chan message board, but spread because far too many people on social media aren’t particularly good at critical thinking. And here we are.” By Tuesday lunchtime Mr Musk had apparently deleted the tweet. It comes shortly after another online post by Mr Musk that attempted to link the founder of Media Matters – a left-leaning non-profit group that has accused X of promoting adverts from global companies alongside pro-Hitler content – to the owner of the Pizzagate restaurant. Earlier this month, a slew of big brands, including Disney and IBM, decided to stop advertising on X after a report by Media Matters said ads were appearing alongside pro-Nazi content and white nationalist posts. Mr Musk boosted a post rehashing the claims of links between the company and the restaurant owner by replying to it, with the one-word phrase: “Weird.” Self-described “free-speech absolutist” Mr Musk has also come under fire on multiple occasions recently over content promoting antisemitism on the site, sparking outrage over his own posts and comments which have promoted antisemitic content. On Wednesday November 15, Mr Musk described a post that said a post, had appeared to push the “great replacement” conspiracy theory on X, was “the actual truth”. The post claimed that Jewish communities “have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them”. “You have said the actual truth,” Mr Musk wrote, a response which earned him praise from white nationalist Nick Fuentes – and accusations of antisemitism from dozens more, including the White House. He later responded to the accusations of antisemitism, insisting “nothing could be further from the truth”. Following the controversies, Mr Musk visited Israel on Monday, where he toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas militants and held talks with top leaders. The billionaire met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who scolded him over content on his platform, and joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a tour of the Kfar Azza kibbutz, a rural village that Hamas militants stormed on 7 October in a deadly assault that launched the war. “The platforms you lead, unfortunately, have a huge reservoir of hatred, hatred of Jews and antisemitism,” Mr Herzog told him. Read More Elon Musk amplifies Pizzagate conspiracy theory Trump says Pence trying to ‘curry favour’ with DoJ over Jan 6: Live House has two days to respond to official motion to expel George Santos Trump says Pence trying to ‘curry favour’ with DoJ over Jan 6: Live House has two days to respond to official motion to expel George Santos Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service to be attended by Jimmy and fellow first ladies
2023-11-29 04:59
EA to Lay Off Customer Support in Austin, Galway
EA to Lay Off Customer Support in Austin, Galway
EA could lay off as many as 100 workers across two of its offices.
1970-01-01 08:00
'FUBAR' Ending Explained: A bloody wedding, revealed identities, and the death of [SPOILER]
'FUBAR' Ending Explained: A bloody wedding, revealed identities, and the death of [SPOILER]
There are church bells and gunshots in the action-packed finale of ‘FUBAR’
2023-05-25 21:38
Overwatch 2 Events Calendar 2023
Overwatch 2 Events Calendar 2023
Overwatch 2 is constantly having new events. Here's what you can expect this year in Overwatch 2023's event calendar.
1970-01-01 08:00
BetMGM + DraftKings NFL Promos: Win $350 Bonus for Thursday Night Football!
BetMGM + DraftKings NFL Promos: Win $350 Bonus for Thursday Night Football!
Turn $15 worth of bets into $350 in bonus bets instantly when you sign up with BetMGM and DraftKings. Read more to learn how you can access these offers before they expire later this week.
2023-11-29 19:00
Sha'Carri is back, Shelly-Ann never left: Women's 100 is the race to watch at track worlds
Sha'Carri is back, Shelly-Ann never left: Women's 100 is the race to watch at track worlds
Sha’Carri Richardson stamped her name on the long, illustrious list of American sprint champions earlier this summer and also set the stakes for the year ahead of her and the rest of the fast pack of 100-meter runners she’s going against
2023-08-17 17:59
Italy wants more public debt in domestic hands -economy minister
Italy wants more public debt in domestic hands -economy minister
By Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) -Italy wants domestic investors to hold an increasing amount of the government's debt, Economy Minister
2023-11-01 01:49
Harry Kane saga leaves Tottenham paying the price for Daniel Levy’s ‘ego’ — again
Harry Kane saga leaves Tottenham paying the price for Daniel Levy’s ‘ego’ — again
Earlier this summer, when there was still the feeling that Manchester United might come in for Harry Kane, it was put to one figure at the club that Bayern Munich were very confident of getting him. "They have no experience of dealing with Daniel Levy," came the response. The German champions have since found out the very hard way. Extremely late on in the Kane deal, just as the player was about to board the plane, negotiations were ongoing with Tottenham about the make-up of the final figures. Levy has long been insistent that 80 percent of the overall package should be guaranteed and the total fee should come to £120 million. This has made many people in the football industry roll their eyes, but it all reflects how the chairman has long divided Tottenham fans. The cries of "Levy out" and "get out of our club" grew louder and louder last season, in that gleaming new stadium. Those who back him, and have admittedly been the far quieter party lately, would point to how he has gradually built the club from a glamorous but under-performing name to one of the Premier League's "super clubs" with the best infrastructure in Europe. They were included in the Super League, after all. Levy is clearly adept at long-term macro business strategy. Those who criticise him, and many of the fans would not even give him the credit for the business side, say this is constantly undercut by a short-term misunderstanding of football. The entire Kane saga has almost encapsulated all of this. While Levy may get the maximum price, it could come at the cost of being able to prepare properly from a purely football perspective. That is far from the first time that has been said. As one figure involved in negotiations said, "it's almost impossible to get a star out of Spurs much before 31 August". It was similar with Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and now - the one the club and fans value above all of them - Kane. Levy seeks to get absolutely everything out of the deal, cranking up the pressure as he himself remains unmoved. Carrick once explained exactly what that was like. The midfielder was in a similar position to Kane in the summer of 2016, when he felt he had to leave for Manchester United to fulfil his talent. Carrick got so frustrated with Levy's refusal to deal with the Old Trafford hierarchy, though, that he decided to call the Spurs chairman himself. The repeated message back was simple. “Well, they need to pay the money,” Levy said. “It was all about the money for Daniel, just driving the price up and up,” Carrick wrote in his autobiography. “Arguing with Daniel was pointless. I would have got more joy talking to a brick wall.” Carrick appealed again, and got the same response again. “Well, they need to pay the money.” Bayern are finding similar. A big question is whether this singular approach becomes self-defeating, especially when viewed from the other side. Those who know Mauricio Pochettino say that he still has huge regrets that he didn't make his Spurs the force that Liverpool became, and puts it down to a refusal by the club to properly spend in 2017-18. The two clubs were then at a similar level but that was the point when Jurgen Klopp went big on Alisson and Virgil van Dijk. Pochettino had requested some of the names that Liverpool wanted - including Sadio Mane - but Levy felt it was better to build in a sustainable way, with an emphasis on youth. The paths diverged. Liverpool went on to win the title and the Champions League, beating Spurs in the final. While Spurs went stale and Pochettino was eventually sacked. So many involved feel that it was a huge missed opportunity, that in large part came from Levy's failure to understand there are key points when teams need further investment to reap much more. There was a similar theme with Spurs’ sales. The Argentine had felt as early as 2017 that the team needed an overhaul and that it could actually be damaging to keep players around because of that danger of staleness. Levy insisted on huge prices for those like Danny Rose, though, and never got them. The team never refreshed. It almost represented a classic false economy. Those who defend Levy - and there are many in the game - would insist that is because he simply has to take an even longer-term view. The proof is in how Spurs have grown, and that stadium. Sources involved in the Super League say it was his business acumen that got Spurs into it since other executives wanted him but not the club. This is the contrast that feeds into how divisive he is. Levy gets the business side. He doesn't get the football side. This can become an issue when, as many sources say, he gets so hands-on in deals. The three immediate successors to Pochettino were all bad appointments, that just didn't fit with what Spurs were. They represented deviations from the club's philosophy. A perception has been that Levy got too distracted by big names - especially Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte - forgetting what Spurs were. A place for up-and-coming players and managers to make their name; since they are not yet in that truly elite bracket of clubs. Others in football who are more critical of Levy would go even further. They say a lot of this is about "ego"; that he needs to be involved; that he needs to get the best deals. A common view is this can be self-defeating for Spurs, because it affects football preparation. Take the Kane negotiations, to come full circle. Levy has long been adamant that he absolutely does not want to sell to an English club, because they are Spurs' competitors. That has long put off United, who just didn't want to get into protracted and frustrated negotiations with Levy again. But what has that resulted in? Had Spurs accepted the reality, which is that they are a level below United, they could have generated an auction that brought even more money. That's how valuable Kane is. Bayern will have to pay the price. The wonder is whether it also comes at some cost to Spurs and not just because they're losing one of their all-time greats. Follow all the latest on our Premier League transfers live blog Read More Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season Premier League LIVE: Harry Kane ‘stopped on way to Stansted airport’ as Bayern Munich move halted Premier League 2023/24 predictions: Champions, top four, relegation, best signing, top scorer and more Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich move in doubt after Tottenham last-minute U-turn Premier League record scorers: How many goals do Alan Shearer and Harry Kane have? Premier League LIVE: Kane to Bayern hit by delay and transfer updates
2023-08-11 19:14
Wizards projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
Wizards projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
The Washington Wizards were busier than most teams over the summer, orchestrating trades centered on franchise cornerstones Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. Wes Unseld Jr.'s group will look extremely different next season.The Washington Wizards began the offseason with a house cleaning....
2023-08-10 22:26
At French Open, Francisco Cerundolo is mad at chair umpire over Holger Rune's double-bounce
At French Open, Francisco Cerundolo is mad at chair umpire over Holger Rune's double-bounce
Francisco Cerundolo is devastated about losing his French Open fourth-round match to Holger Rune in a fifth-set tiebreaker
2023-06-06 05:02
Pep Guardiola not concerned that Manchester City only had eight subs at Chelsea
Pep Guardiola not concerned that Manchester City only had eight subs at Chelsea
Pep Guardiola has no complaints about being forced to name an incomplete substitutes bench that included two goalkeepers during Manchester City’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Chelsea on Sunday. The champions took only eight replacements to Stamford Bridge, amongst them reserve keepers Stefan Ortega and Scott Carson, as injuries limited the manager’s options. Guardiola was without John Stones and Nathan Ake, with the latter having been ruled out as late as Friday, whilst Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee. Yet City looked to have coped well without their missing trio and thought they had nicked three points late on in west London when Rodri’s effort deflected in off Chelsea’s Thiago Silva four minutes from time. That was until former City man Cole Palmer levelled from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Armando Broja had been fouled by Ruben Dias. Despite the enforced absences and dropped points, Guardiola said he was satisfied with the squad depth available to him. “Kevin is long-term, John was injured unfortunately. Nathan was injured. The rest are OK,” he said. “I like to work with a small (group). It’s so tough if five, six, seven players don’t play, they don’t like that. It’s what it is. “If we have injuries, it’s unlucky, but we have done all the time. “For many years we’ve had this type of squad.” Guardiola said he felt his team put in a performance far better than in recent seasons at Stamford Bridge, despite Palmer – who left City for Chelsea in a £42million deal on the last day of the transfer window – coming back to haunt his former manager at the death. It came after the visitors has twice led through Erling Haaland, who scored his 12th and 13th Premier League goals of the season, with Manuel Akanji also netting. For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling also scored against the club with whom he won the league four times, with Silva and Nicolas Jackson also on target. “I don’t remember a game where we’ve come here and had the chances that we had,” said Guardiola. “Even games where we’ve come here and won, last year for example was much, much worse than (Sunday). “Even by a million times it was much worse than today, and we won 1-0. We tried, we created a lot of chances. We take a good point, we created a lot of chances in the right moments Pep Guardiola “The talent cannot be controlled sometimes. They are in a good process, their shape is really good, what they do. “Give credit both teams. The game was tight. It was momentum for everyone, and momentum you can break. It’s a fair result. “Nothing changed. Chelsea is Chelsea, one of the greatest teams in the last 20 years. “I know how good they are. For us, it’s a good test. How long we didn’t lose, that’s a good sign. “Today we didn’t lose, we (played) away. We take a good point, we created a lot of chances in the right moments. “I think it was a fair result for both sides.” Read More John Carver urges Lawrence Shankland to make the most of late Scotland call-up Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament Britain’s Katie Boulter eager to build on her successful season in 2024 On this day in 2006: Gold Cup winning Desert Orchid dies at the age of 27 The sporting weekend in pictures San Francisco 49ers return to winning ways against Jacksonville Jaguars
2023-11-14 01:27
Owls chairman suggests terms of new deal were behind Darren Moore’s exit
Owls chairman suggests terms of new deal were behind Darren Moore’s exit
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri has claimed manager Darren Moore left the club after asking for a new contract four times bigger than his existing one. Moore surprisingly departed the Owls earlier this month having guided the club to League One promotion via the play-offs. Speculation, which Chansiri has called “damaging”, suggested the pair had fallen out over the transfer budget for the forthcoming Championship campaign, but the Thai businessman has now broken his silence, having agreed to initially keep quiet on Moore’s behalf. Moore is understood not to want to engage in a back-and-forth public debate over his exit out of respect for the Hillsborough club and his position remains the same in the wake of Chansiri’s comments on Thursday. In a statement on the club’s official website, Chansiri said: “After the end of the season, we had achieved promotion and as far as I was concerned, there was no issue. We completed the retained list on Thursday, 1 June and began discussing the recruitment of new players, the targets identified for the Championship, and I asked Darren to summarise and present. “We arranged to talk the following week in order to prepare the final information and begin coordinating the process. “Darren went on holiday and we spoke again during his holiday. We talked more about the recruitment of players, then Darren mentioned the contracts of his coaching team, which expired at the end of June. I asked Darren to send me his proposals for them because I was happy to talk. “He then mentioned his own contract which I said was automatically active following our promotion. But I said I was happy to discuss a new contract and asked Darren to send me the details and his proposals so I can study them. “After a few days, he sent me his proposals for his contract and I asked Darren to rethink and said, ‘Are you sure?’. I asked him if this proposal was instigated by his agent and Darren told me it was a guideline. I asked Darren if he wanted an answer ‘yes or no’ or can we talk again? Darren said it was a guideline and he would think about the details again. “We arranged to meet face to face in my office on Wednesday, 14 June. We talked some more about players and Darren asked about the contracts of his coaching staff. I said we needed Darren to resolve his own situation first because whilever this was an issue, we could not talk further about his staff. “I said we need a conclusion before Thursday as we could not take too long when we needed to begin the recruitment process. Even if we could not agree, this is the football business, but we would still maintain friendly relations with each other, but we need to resolve this situation. “I told Darren I was happy for him to stay, he achieved promotion and deserved a chance in the Championship. I said I was happy to increase his salary and add more bonuses into the contract, with the highest bonus if we reached the Premier League. “But the proposal Darren presented was significantly in excess of his contract and I said I cannot offer a minimum of four times your current salary on a three-year contract, I have to be realistic and protect the club. “I advised Darren to rethink very carefully, do you really think this is a good idea? I offered my full support during all his time at our club and I wanted us to continue and succeed together. “We met again on Thursday 15 June and Darren told me that he could not accept. I said, ‘OK, that is your decision and I don’t think it will be difficult for you to get another job’. I said I would help Darren by announcing his departure via mutual consent because that will help for the future.” The Owls have yet to appoint Moore’s replacement, with Dean Smith among those linked with the vacancy. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Johnny Sexton faces potential ban which could hamper World Cup preparations Mark Cavendish will not allow emotions to get better of him in final Tour Man Utd agree deal to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea
2023-06-30 00:59