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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Today Show interview
King and his wife Tabitha King give an interview to Katie Couric on the Today Show just five months after King is hit by a truck and seriously injured.
