(John McCann, Headline USA) With the economy looking precarious, Tesla founder Elon Musk has laid off several employees, including the company’s heads of diversity and LGBT issues. This decision has prompted a strong reaction from many on the cultural Left who have accused Musk of homophobia and intolerance.
These high profile removals were part of a broader wave of company layoffs, reported Legal Insurrection. On the surface, the move looked to be purely an economic one. But, recent comments by the billionaire have led many to believe the move was ideological.
Prior to the layoffs, Musk had stated a concern for what he calls the “woke mind virus.” However, in an email to the Tesla executives, Musk explained the financial rationale for the cut backs. Musk called for a 10% reduction of the Tesla workforce and a hiring pause due to a “super-bad feeling” about the economy. He further explained that the 10% reduction would be for “salaried headcount” as Tesla had become overstaffed due to large growth.
The fact that these layoffs included the company’s diversity and LGBT heads has outraged many on the identarian Left. One blue-check mark on Twitter sarcastically stated, “Elon Musk lays off the top people in charge of Tesla’s diversity and inclusivity programs, including the executive who was president of Tesla’s LGBTQ employee community group. Anyone surprised?”
Another Twitter user called for a Tesla boycott exclaiming, “This is a new low in just how stupid Elon Musk is! He’s concerned about a virus that makes people more aware of social injustice?!? Time to boycott Tesla!”
Online political backlash aside, Musk is facing legal challenges to his layoffs. Former Tesla employees have launched a lawsuit against the electric car company, arguing that the mass layoffs violated federal law due to a lack of ample notice of termination from the company.
Whether the diversity layoffs were done for economical or political reasons, Musk will surely be putting more focus on his company’s legal defense instead of what activists spout on Twitter — a platform that the billionaire will soon also control.
