(Headline USA) Elon Musk slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Twitter this week after she complained about his proposed plan to charge verified users for continued use of their verification badges.
Musk, who completed his takeover of Twitter last month, revealed he’s considering various plans that would require verified users to pay a subscription fee if they want to keep their blue checks. Two possible monthly costs included $20 per month or $5 per month. As of right now, Musk said he’s leaning toward an $8 per-month charge.
Ocasio-Cortez slammed the plan in a subtweet of Musk, claiming the billionaire wants to make people pay for free speech.
Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that “free speech” is actually a $8/mo subscription plan
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 2, 2022
Musk responded: “Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8.”
He went on to share merchandise from Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign, including a sweatshirt that costs $58, suggesting that she is being hypocritical for criticizing his decision to charge users for a service or good.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez replied, saying she is “proud” of her merchandise because the proceeds go to pay for her workers, who “have full healthcare + benefits like childcare help, and every one is paid a living wage.”
Proud of this and always will be.
My workers are union, make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren’t subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. Items are made in USA.
Team AOC honors and respects working people. You should try it sometime instead of union-busting. https://t.co/TCOh3IHXlF
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez then suggested that Musk did something to her account, claiming it hasn’t been working properly since he tweeted at her.
“Also, my Twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren’t working tonight, so I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire’s skin,” she said. “Just a reminder that money will never by your way out of insecurity, folks.”
In a follow-up tweet, AOC claimed users who “say something” Musk doesn’t like are being punished.
“This is what my app has looked like ever since my tweet upset you yesterday. What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me,” she said.
Yo @elonmusk while I have your attention, why should people pay $8 just for their app to get bricked when they say something you don’t like?
This is what my app has looked like ever since my tweet upset you yesterday. What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me 🤔 pic.twitter.com/e3hcZ7T9up
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022
Musk, for his part, didn’t seem too upset about Ocasio-Cortez’s rant.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
