Depp, Heard settle defamation appeals
ELON Musk has gone silent since 10 million Twitter users voted for him to step down as CEO of the struggling social media company.
Mr Musk polled users late on Sunday, asking “Should I step down as head of Twitter?” after heavy criticism of his bizarre leadership style.
“I will abide by the results of this poll,” he added.
More than 17.5 million votes were cast in just 12 hours, with 57.5 per cent voting in favour of Mr Musk handing over the reins.
The billionaire CEO, usually an avid Tweeter, has posted just a handful of times since.
“As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it,” he wrote shortly after sending the poll live.
And, cryptically: “Those who want power are the ones who least deserve it.”
He has neglected to address the damning poll more directly.
Twitter has been in free fall since Mr Musk’s takeover in October, as he went to war with tech giant Apple and sent dramatic emails to what remained of the company’s staff.
Last week, the head of the Musk family office began cold calling the same investors who helped the billionaire to buy Twitter, pleading for more cash in what was seen by many as a desperate act.
“Everything has been done haphazardly and roughly,” one key investor said. “They’re doing it because they’re out of money. I don’t think Mr Musk expected such a big drop in revenue.”
The funds raised would go towards a “hiring spree” of programmers to build a “super app” to process payments, among other non-Twittertypical services, the note to investors said.
Meanwhile, the social media company is bleeding cash and faces heavy interest payments on its debts.
Mr Musk bought Twitter after a dramatic and lengthy legal row, racking up about $US13 billion ($F28.74 billion) in debt and outside equity of about $US7 billion ($F15.47 billion) in the process – all as advertisers fled the platform, taking their revenue with them.
He seemingly tried to bar users from leaving as Tweeters were suspended for redirecting their followers to other social media accounts.
A slew of journalists were also banned after writing about the movements of Mr Musk’s private jet.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have settled their defamation lawsuits following a high-profile trial earlier this year in which the former couple accused each other of physical and verbal abuse.
Heard announced the settlement on Monday on social media. Both sides had filed appeals of various aspects
■ of the jury’s verdicts in June. The seven-person civil jury had awarded Depp $10 million in damages, but also awarded $2 million to Heard.
Depp’s camp said the deal includes a $1 million payment from her to him to settle all financial claims.
Depp’s lawyers said he will donate that money to charity.
“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light. The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgement in Mr Depp’s favor against M. Heard remain fully in place,” Depp’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vazquez, said.
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