Twitter founder Jack Dorsey blasts the media for 'creating conflict' in online ...

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey blasts the media for 'creating conflict' in online ...
Twitter founder Jack Dorsey blasts the media for 'creating conflict' in online ...

The co-founder of Twitter launched a searing attack on the media on Monday night, taking a broad swipe at news networks and accusing them of 'sowing doubt to promote white supremacy and get engagement'.

The comments come just one day after condemning Twitter's board - of which he is a member - for being preoccupied with 'plots and coups' amid Elon Musk's attempt to takeover the company

Dorsey, who stepped down as CEO of Twitter in November, lashed out at CNN and then Fox.

The online rant began when CNN's media correspondent, Brian Stelter, tweeted a link to an op-ed accusing Fox's Tucker Carlson of 'selling doubt', Dorsey replied: 'And you all are selling hope?'

Newsmax's Alex Salvi then jumped in, saying that Dorsey was defending the controversial Fox anchor.

'Not defending a thing,' Dorsey replied. 'Holding up a mirror.'

Former CEO Jack Dorsey, pictured in June at a Bitcoin conference, on Monday night took aim at the media, criticizing CNN in particular

Former CEO Jack Dorsey, pictured in June at a Bitcoin conference, on Monday night took aim at the media, criticizing CNN in particular

Ellen Pao, a venture capitalist, then chimed in, saying: 'I thought his point was that the press does the same thing, sowing doubt to promote white supremacy and get engagement, often amplifying bad takes, but now I'm not sure anymore.'

Dorsey replied: 'Yes.'

When someone pointed out that criticizing the media for amplifying extremist views was ironic coming from the Twitter founder, Dorsey seemed to accept his point.

'We certainly have seen what twitter does positive and negative,' the 45-year-old said.

'I think the common denominator is the current ad model for all media, not just social media.'

When one commentator noted that CNN 'sells false news', Dorsey agreed.

'I know this from being on the streets of Ferguson during the protests and watching them try to create conflict and film it causing the protestors to chant 'f*** CNN',' he said.

One man remarked: 'Every single broadcast news channel is selling the same thing, ad viewership.'

Dorsey replied: 'Yep.'

On Sunday, Dorsey strongly criticized the 11-person board of Twitter - of which he is one - as he weighed into the toxic fight over Musk's attempted hostile takeover for the first time.

The former CEO blasted the 'plots and coups' that were 'consistently the dysfunction of the company'.

In a series of bombshell tweets and replies, he endorsed one posting saying that 'a bad board will kill a company every time'.

His comments come as Musk tweeted 'Love Me Tender,' again teasing the possibility of a hostile takeover of Twitter.

The billionaire posted the Elvis Presley lyrics at the weekend in a potential bid to lure shareholders with a tender offer that could see him seize control.

A tender offer would see him bypass the board and go to shareholders with his offer of $54.20 a share - but he would need to show how he would finance his bid.

He also appeared to suggest he would strip board members of their salaries, saying they would get '$0 if my bid succeeds'.

Meanwhile the social media giant filed its 'poison pill' defense with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a bid to thwart the Tesla founder.

The plan is being seen as a last ditch attempt to prevent Musk from increasing his stake in the company further following his $43billion bid last week.

Musk, the world's richest man, currently owns a 9.2 per cent stake in the tech giant and is trying to take it private with an unsolicited bid of $54.20 per share.

Dorsey owns 2 per cent of the company. 

Twitter's bosses have reportedly brought on Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase to advise it on how to respond to Musk's bid.

Elon Musk (pictured last week) has tweeted 'Love Me Tender' as he hinted at the possibility of a hostile takeover of Twitter

Elon Musk (pictured last week) has tweeted 'Love Me Tender' as he hinted at the possibility of a hostile takeover of Twitter

Elon Musk's attempted hostile takeover of Twitter timeline:
January 31: Musk starts buying Twitter shares 'almost daily' April 4: The billionaire reveals he has a nine per cent stake in the tech giant April 5: Twitter offers him a seat on the board of directors - as long as he does not own more than 14.9 per cent. He initially accepts the offer April 8: Vanguard Group reveals it has a larger, 10.3 per cent, stake in Twitter, meaning Musk is no longer largest shareholder April 9: Musk rejects seat on Twitter's board on the day he is meant to join April 10: CEO Agrawal announces Musk declined to join the board in a statement April 12: Investor Marc Bain Rasella files lawsuit against Musk in NYC over 'failing to report his Twitter share purchases to the SEC' in time April 14: The Tesla founder offers to buy Twitter for $43billion April 14: Twitter stocks plummet after hostile takeover bid April 15: Twitter board mounts a 'poison pill' strategy against Musk April 16:  Musk tweets 'Love Me Tender' as he again teased at the possibility of a hostile takeover of Twitter April 17: Musk agreed with a tweet saying the 'game is rigged' if he can't buy Twitter April 18: Jack Dorsey has slammed the board of Twitter for 'plots and coups' that were 'consistently the dysfunction of the company'  April 18: The social media giant files its 'poison pill' defense with the Securities and Exchange Commission

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Dorsey has frequently shown support for Musk, and welcomed his initial plan to join Twitter's board. 

Replying to one post on Saturday, Dorsey said: 'When I was fired in 2008 and made chair, the board took most of my shares away from me.

'I also gave 1 per cent of the company back to the employee pool in 2015. So, ended up with very little of company.'

He also replied to one comment mentioning 'plots and coups' in the Twitter board saying: 'it's consistently been the dysfunction of the company'.

Earlier in the thread, he replied to a post quoting a 'Silicon Valley proverb' by venture capitalist Fred Destin. 

It said: 'Good boards don't create good companies, but a bad board will kill a company every time.' 

Dorsey said: 'Big facts.'

The 45-year-old entrepreneur is still on the board but is expected to leave when his term comes to an end at the end of May.

Musk's Love Me Tender tweet on Saturday afternoon was his latest hint he will bypass Twitter's board and put his offer directly to shareholders.

On Thursday, following a TED talk appearance, he tweeted: 'It would be utterly indefensible not to put this offer to a shareholder vote.'

He later added that the board's 'economic interests are simply not aligned with shareholders'.

On Sunday, in a raft of tweets, Musk slammed Twitter's board, blasted those claiming his bid could not work and also praised an article in Bloomberg.

Gary Black, managing partner at The Future Fund, had tweeted: 'Let me point out something obvious.

'If @elonmusk takes $TWTR private, the TWTR board members don't have jobs any more, which pays them $250K-$300K per year for what is a nice part-time job.'

Musk replied: 'Board salary will be $0 if my bid succeeds, so that's ~$3M/year saved right there.'

Another post on the social media website hit out at an article by NYU's Professor Scott Galloway saying Musk could not afford to buy Twitter.

Twitter's share price remained below Musk's offer level of $54.20 last week, suggesting the market is uncertain whether his bid will be accepted by the board. But in the last few days it turned upwards

Twitter's share price remained below Musk's offer level of $54.20 last week, suggesting the market is uncertain whether his bid will be accepted by the board. But in the last few days it turned upwards

Musk offered to purchase Twitter for $54.20 per share. The company's stock was valued at the time of the offer at $45.85 per share

Musk offered to purchase Twitter for $54.20 per share. The company's stock was

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