Musk to King: ‘Why do you hate America?’
In response to a joke King posts to X:
Joke making the rounds in Europe: Q: What borders on complete stupidity? A: Canada and Mexico.
Musk responds:
Why do you hate America? That’s messed up.
Why do you hate America? That’s messed up.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 9, 2024
King: Model S a ‘good automobile’
King says his Tesla Model S is a “good automobile” that has never given him “a speck of trouble.” Purchased in 2013, King concedes that his car does not have “the same range as” newer models, but defends the vehicle and says it “still goes fast.”
Never mind Twitter, what about the car? I bought my Tesla Model S in 2013…it’s never given me a speck of trouble. Still goes fast. Good automobile.
Never mind Twitter, what about the car? I bought my Tesla Model S in 2013. Doesn't have the same range as the newest ones, but it's never given me a speck of trouble. Still goes fast. Good automobile.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 13, 2023
Musk to King: ‘I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?’
After King says that Musk should give the blue check fee he donated to King to a Ukraine charity:
I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity. I recommend the Prytula Foundation, which provides lifesaving services in Ukraine. It’s only $8, so perhaps Mr. Musk could add a bit more.
Musk responds, saying he has donated $100 million to Ukraine, and asks King how much he has donated.
I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?
Musk links his tweet to an October 22, 2022, tweet from former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, thanking him for donating Starlink to Ukraine’s war effort.
Thanks @elonmusk. Before all the talks about funding, you confirmed to me that in any case you will ensure the work of Starlinks in Ukraine. This was critically important for Ukraine. We are grateful to you!
I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?
(We turned down the DoD money btw) https://t.co/wpLa6dTnP6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 23, 2023
King: Musk has been ‘a terrible fit’ for Twitter
King says:
I think Elon Musk is a visionary. Almost singlehandedly, he’s changed the way Americans think about automobiles. I have a Tesla and love it. That said, he’s been a terrible fit for Twitter. He appears to be making it up as he goes along.
Musk replies:
Suggestions are welcome Mr. (crown emoji)….The goal is a trusted digital town square, where a wide range of views are tolerated, provided people don’t break the law or spam. For example, any incitement to violence will result in account suspension.
King also noted that “Twitter ain’t cars. And Twitter ain’t rockets.
Suggestions are welcome Mr. 👑
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 26, 2022
Musk later praises King:
Stephen King is one of most creative people on Earth. While I may not agree with everything he says, I do actually want to hear it.
Stephen King is one of most creative people on Earth. While I may not agree with everything he says, I do actually want to hear it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2022
Musk debates Twitter verification fee with King
After Stephen King complains that he will leave Twitter if he is made to pay $20 a month to keep his ‘blue tick’:
$20 to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron
Musk debates the fee amount with him:
We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8.
We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
2014 National Medal of Arts
King receives the 2104 National Medal of Arts from President Obama for “combining storytelling with analysis of human nature”. Other recipients include Sally Fields and Alice Waters.
Suggests Trump’s campaign is racist
In a Tweet, King suggests Trump is running a racist campaign.
How's this for a Trump campaign slogan: IF YOU'RE WHITE, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! ANY OTHER HUE, I DON'T TRUST YOU.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 5, 2015
Dark Tower TV/movie deal
Sony Pictures and MRC will co-finance movies and TV shows based on King’s The Dark Tower. Sony will distribute the first in a series of movies, while a complementary TV series is being developed by MRC. The new script is primarily based on the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, and the relationship between Roland and Jake. The script, by Goldman and Pinkner is a reconceived version of the script that had been previously developed at Universal and at Warner Bros. King:
I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.
Rothman:
There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan. And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise.
Indiana act ‘gay discrimination’
King comments on the act:
Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it's still a dog turd.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 31, 2015
Requests apology
King asks for an apology from LePage for claiming that he doesn’t pay his taxes.
Governor Paul LePage implied that I don't pay my taxes. I do. Every cent. I think he needs to man up and apologize.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 20, 2015
In 2013, my wife and I paid approximately 1.4 million (dollars) in state taxes. As this is a matter of public record, I have no problem telling you that. I would imagine 2014 was about the same, but I do not have those figures.
Stars in political ad
King stars in an ad campaign for Maine’s Senate Race, supporting Democratic candidate Bellows who is running against Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
I’ve never worked so hard, or hoped so strongly for a change in leadership from the state of Maine.
Huffington Post Interview
King shares his fear that the world is becoming more like George Orwell’s 1984 in an interview with The Huffington Post.
It’s tiring, to see the world looks more and more like George Orwell’s vision in 1984 where war is a constant thing… it’s just a little bit depressing.
Criticized by serial killer’s daughter
King is criticized by BTK Killer Dennis Rader’s daughter for writing the screenplay, A Good Marriage, inspired by the serial killer. Kerri Rawson ends the family’s nine-year silence by sending letters to King and news outlets saying that King is exploiting her family and the families of the victims. Rawson to the Wichita Eagle:
He’s exploiting my father’s 10 victims and their families.
King:
I maintain that the theme of both the novella and the movie — how some men are able to keep secrets from even their closest loved ones — is valid and deserves exploration.
Would wear Jeter hat to Fenway
King, a long time Boston Red Sox fan, admits he would wear a Derek Jeter hat to Fenway Park in honor of the New York Yankees shortstop’s last game if he were attending.
For years, the Red Sox and the Yankees have been mortal enemies and this year Derek Jeter is going to finish his career at Fenway Park. We hated him all those years because he always broke our hearts but everybody in that stadium is going to stand and applaud at every at-bat that he has in that last game. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if I was there, I’d wear a Jeter hat to Fenway Park. My kids would never speak to me again.
CBS This Morning interview
King visits CBS this morning to talk about his career and his new movie “A Good Marriage”. The movie, which opens in theaters October 3, is based on BTK killer Dennis Rader. King discusses the wife in the film, played by Joan Allen:
She never had a clue of what he was doing and this secret life that he had. And so I started to think, I wonder how many of us are sleeping with strangers and what we really know about the people that we think we’re close to.
11/22/63 being adapted to miniseries
0 CommentsKing’s novel 11/22/63 is being adapted into a nine-hour miniseries that will stream on Hulu. The novel is the story of a school teacher who travels back in time to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. King and J.J. Abrams will be executive producers on the project. King:
If I ever wrote a book that cries out for long-form, event-TV programming, 11/22/63 is it. I’m excited that it’s going to happen, and am looking forward to working with J.J. Abrams and the whole Bad Robot team.
A Good Marriage trailer
0 CommentsTrailer for King’s movie A Good Marriage is released. King:
I’ve seen enough movies adapted from my work to know that the things that work the best are the things that aren’t too long and aren’t too short. Some of the stories, when they get expanded, they go in the wrong direction, and with the novels, if they’re really expansive, a lot of times it’s like sitting around a suitcase and trying to get everything in. A Good Marriage is about 100 pages long, about as long as Shawshank, or The Body, which became Stand By Me. And I liked it because it was from the woman’s point of view. I think that’s why Joan Allen got involved. She saw it as a feminist story, with a woman who wasn’t going to just become a scream machine.
Ice Bucket Challenge: Stephen King
King accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and nominates John Grisham.
Signs Letter Against Amazon
King joins a group of authors, including Donna Tartt and Nora Roberts, in signing an online letter protesting Amazon.com’s treatment of books published by the Hachette Book Group. Amazon is currently involved in a dispute with the publishing group over e-book prices and other issues, and as a result has penalized the publisher by slowing shipments and removing the preorder option for their books. The letter says:
As writers—some but not all published by Hachette—we feel strongly that no bookseller should block the sale of books or otherwise prevent or discourage customers from ordering or receiving the books they want. It is not right for Amazon to single out a group of authors, who are not involved in the dispute, for selective retaliation.
Under the Dome Season 2
0 CommentsSpielberg and King continue writing and producing episodes for Under the Dome. Continuing into season two, the citizens of the small Maine town are still trying to understand what the dome is and how to destroy it to free themselves and reconnect with the outside world.
