Elon Musk Apologises For Ridiculing Laid-Off Twitter Worker’s Disability

Musk called out ex-employee Haraldur Thorleifsson’s claim of disability, saying that he used that as an excuse to do “no actual work.”

Elon Musk claimed that the former employee used his disability as an excuse.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk apologised on Wednesday for calling out a former Twitter employee on his disability. On Tuesday, Haraldur Thorleifsson, a Reykjavík-based entrepreneur and (now former) Twitter employee, asked Musk if he was still employed at the company since HR wasn’t offering any communication on being laid off. He posted a tweet tagging Musk, saying that nine days ago, access to his work computer was disabled, along with nearly 200 other Twitter employees. He was referring to the most recent round of layoffs at Twitter late last month. 

Musk responded by asking Thorleifsson what work has he been doing in the company. After getting approval from Musk that he won’t be breaking confidentiality to discuss his role openly, Thorleifsson listed some of his tasks and responsibilities on Twitter, including the likes of leading design critiques to help “level up design across the company,” hiring design managers, worked on redirecting focus on younger users, and more. 

Musk immediately replied, saying that he needed photos to prove his performance, “or it didn’t happen.” He additionally said that Twitter hasn’t hired design roles in four months, and asked Thorleifsson to list the changes he made to “help with the youths.”

- Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn’t happen.
- We haven’t hired design roles in 4 months
- What changes did you make to help with the youths?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

It should be noted here that Thorleifsson isn't just a regular employee. His creative agency Ueno was acquired by Twitter in 2021 and he asked for the acquisition price to be paid as salary, so that he could pay 46 percent in taxes instead of 22 percent, to show his gratitude towards his Finnish education. He has over 17,29,000 followers on Twitter. 

Musk would then go on to call out Thorleifsson’s claim of disability, saying that he did “no actual work.” The billionaire entrepreneur said that Thorleifsson used disability as an excuse that “prevented him from typing,” yet he was “simultaneously tweeting up a storm.”

“Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that,” Musk said. 

The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.

Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

To this, Thorleifsson hit back by explaining his situation. He said he has muscular dystrophy. "My legs were the first to go. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair. It’s been 20 years since that happened. In that time the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet," he tweeted. 

My legs were the first to go. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair.

It’s been 20 years since that happened.

In that time the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet

— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023

Following a public backlash, where Twitter users called Musk out on his insensitive behaviour towards Thorleifsson, Musk issued an apology for his “misunderstanding” and said he had a video call with Thorleifsson. “It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful.” Musk added that he “is considering remaining at Twitter.”

I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful.

He is considering remaining at Twitter.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

Thorleiffson didn't share any information on his return to Twitter. However, he tweeted that he will be opening a restaurant in downtown Reykjavík "very soon."

In other news, I'm opening a restaurant in downtown Reykjavik very soon.

It's named after my mom. Like many mom's she was the best mom in the world.

Kind, funny, hard working and a wonderful artist. And cool, oh boy was she cool.

See you soon at @AnnaJona pic.twitter.com/YfmcXo3s9k

— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023