Twitter Layoffs Hoax, Duo Posing As Laid Off Workers Trick Reporters

No, Rahul Ligma is NOT among the many Twitter workers axed by the fowl app’s new proprietor, Elon Musk … some media retailers had been merely duped by 2 males posing as laid off workers.

Two males carrying cardboard packing containers appeared Friday outdoors Twitter HQ in San Francisco, claiming Papa Elon had simply laid them off … and regardless of some pink flags, reporters had been fast to run with what they thought was a giant story associated to Elon’s huge buy.

One of many pranksters advised reporters, together with CNBC’s Deidre Bosa, his identify was “Rahul Ligma,” which most folk versed in Twitter replies would know is a reference to an web meme.

For the uninitiated — we’re you, Deirde — Ligma units up a joke for “Ligma Balls.” Lick. My. Balls. Along with CNBC, Bloomberg ran headlines Friday saying laid off Twitter workers had been leaving company with packing containers in hand.

One other hoax sufferer was native TV information reporter Suzanne Phan of ABC7 Bay Space, who tweeted video of the media scrum with Mr. Ligma … who advised falsely advised reporters he was fired throughout a Zoom assembly and did not know the place he would work subsequent.

The pranksters littered their interviews with unusual popular culture references … “Ligma” was holding Michelle Obama‘s e book as he exclaimed, “Michelle Obama wouldn’t have occurred if Elon Musk owned Twitter.”

Britney Spears was additionally name-dropped … the pranksters claimed they had been fearful about the way forward for democracy and “movie star conservatorship” with Elon proudly owning Twitter. In addition they advised reporters they drove Tesla vehicles and did not know if they’d be capable to make any extra funds.

There was tons of hypothesis about layoffs as Elon closed the deal … however in actuality, the one Twitter workers being axed, no less than to this point, are some execs who’re going to make a killing off their departures.