In a recent development that has left the internet buzzing, Elon Musk is once again at the centre of controversy, this time involving the creators of the popular webcomic Cyanide and Happiness. This incident follows Musk’s decision to rebrand Twitter to the letter “X,” sparking widespread debate and criticism.
Elon Musk’s Meme Blunder
Elon Musk’s latest attempt at humour involved posting a meme derived from the Cyanide and Happiness webcomic. However, Musk made a critical error: he removed the watermark, a move that could potentially lead to legal action from the original creators, Dave McElfatrick and Rob DenBleyker. This isn’t the first time Musk has faced backlash for his meme antics. Two years ago, the satirical video game news website Hard Drive called him out for posting their content without proper credit, leading to a heated exchange.
The Hard Drive Incident
In a previous controversy, Musk repeatedly tweeted screenshots of Hard Drive article titles, cropping out the site’s name. One notable headline was “Zodiac Killer Letter Solved by Opening It With VLC Media Player.” When Musk refused to credit Hard Drive and accused them of being “woke,” the site retaliated with the scathing headline, “Elon Musk Admits He Wants to Travel to Mars Because No One Hates Him There Yet.”
Musk’s Latest Twitter Spat
This week, Musk’s issues extended beyond memes. Reuters reported on several serious matters involving Musk, including reckless engineering practices at Neuralink, a federal court order for Musk to testify in the SEC’s investigation of his Twitter takeover, and difficulties convincing Tesla shareholders to approve a $56 billion payout amidst a significant stock value drop. In response to these reports, Musk posted a meme based on a Cyanide and Happiness comic, but crucially, he cropped out the watermark.
Potential Legal Ramifications
Musk’s removal of the watermark from the Cyanide and Happiness comic could potentially lead to legal action. While Musk’s meme, which essentially calls journalism “dumb,” might appear original, it lacks the creativity and humour typical of the original creators. This move not only disrespects the intellectual property of McElfatrick and DenBleyker, but also underscores Musk’s controversial behaviour on social media.
Community Reactions
The incident has sparked a flurry of reactions online. Fans of Cyanide and Happiness and critics of Musk alike have pointed out the ethical and legal implications of his actions. While McElfatrick has not indicated any serious legal intentions, his engagement has already triggered Musk’s fanbase, highlighting the divisive nature of Musk’s online persona.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s latest meme controversy with Cyanide and Happiness adds another chapter to his tumultuous relationship with social media and intellectual property. While it remains to be seen if any legal action will be taken, the incident has once again put Musk’s online behaviour under the spotlight, raising questions about respect for creators and the ethical use of content.
As the story develops, one thing is clear: in the battle of wits and humour, the creators of Cyanide and Happiness have achieved what Musk continues to struggle with—they’ve made us laugh, and they’ve done it with originality and respect for their craft.