Tesla has fired a manager, Jared Ottmann, for criticizing a social media post by CEO Elon Musk that referenced Nazi leaders, illustrating Musk’s intolerance for dissent within his business empire. Ottmann objected to a post by Musk on X that used Nazi names in wordplay, calling out the insensitivity of the joke given the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Despite raising his concerns internally, Ottmann was terminated by Tesla.
This incident reflects a pattern of punishing dissent within Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, which fired nine employees in 2022 for criticizing Musk’s social media comments and sexual harassment jokes. Musk has faced backlash for his right-wing politics and support of a far-right party in Germany.
Recent signs of dissent at Tesla include employees expressing frustration over Musk’s political activities during a meeting in Palo Alto, where a manager also criticized Musk’s behavior. This follows the firing of a SpaceX employee who questioned Musk’s campaign appearances in company apparel.
Musk’s reputation for defending free speech is contradicted by his intolerance for criticism within his companies. Investors in Tesla are concerned that Musk’s political activities are negatively impacting the company’s image and stock performance. Despite Musk’s controversial actions, he has remarked that he supports free speech and has funded lawsuits defending workers who were fired over social media posts.
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