November 8, 2024

Questions swirl around Kanye West’s Twitter account after Elon Musk takes charge of platform

Elon #Elon

Celebrity Sightings - Paris Fashion Week - Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 - Day Seven © Edward Berthelot Celebrity Sightings – Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 – Day Seven

Twitter’s new owner and CEO, billionaire Elon Musk, said Friday he was not involved in lifting the restrictions on Kanye West’s Twitter account. The rapper, who now performs under the name Ye, had been locked out of the account earlier this month for making antisemitic statements on the platform.

The Tesla-founder, who officially took control of the social media network earlier this week after purchasing it for $44 billion, tweeted Friday that the company would be forming a “content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.”

“No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes,” Musk added.

In response to that statement, one Twitter user asked Musk why the read-only restrictions had already allegedly been lifted from West’s account. Musk responded that West’s “account was restored by Twitter before the acquisition. They did not consult with or inform me.”

West has not tweeted from the account since Oct. 8, and CBS News has not independently verified whether West’s access has in fact been restored. 

Twitter had locked West out of his account “due to a violation of Twitter’s policies,” the platform told CBS News in a statement Oct. 9. Though the reason was not specified, West on Oct. 8 posted an antisemitic tweet in which he threatened to go “death [sic] con 3” on Jewish people. The tweet has since been removed.

Elon Musk expected to make changes at Twitter after completing $44 billion takeover

SHARE

SHARE

TWEET

SHARE

EMAIL

What to watch next

  • Uvalde families demand Texas police chief resign

    Uvalde families demand Texas police chief resign

    CBS News

  • Former House Speaker Paul Ryan: "Anybody not named Trump" can win in 2024

    Former House Speaker Paul Ryan: “Anybody not named Trump” can win in 2024

    CBS News

  • Biden gets updated COVID booster

    Biden gets updated COVID booster

    CBS News

  • NYPD warns of extremists targeting voting sites

    NYPD warns of extremists targeting voting sites

    CBS News

  • Russian lawmakers advance expansion of anti-LGBTQ law

    Russian lawmakers advance expansion of anti-LGBTQ law

    CBS News

  • Secret Service officials to testify in Jan. 6 probe

    Secret Service officials to testify in Jan. 6 probe

    CBS News

  • Suspect hijacks bus in New York City

    Suspect hijacks bus in New York City

    CBS News

  • Dozens charged in Medicare fraud scheme

    Dozens charged in Medicare fraud scheme

    CBS News

  • Capitol rioter sentenced to 7.5 years in prison

    Capitol rioter sentenced to 7.5 years in prison

    CBS News

  • Powerball jackpot grows to $800 million after no one matches all winning numbers

    Powerball jackpot grows to $800 million after no one matches all winning numbers

    CBS News

  • Small Minnesota town at center of nickel boom

    Small Minnesota town at center of nickel boom

    CBS News

  • Kentucky coal miner goes viral after rushing to basketball game to be with son

    Kentucky coal miner goes viral after rushing to basketball game to be with son

    CBS News

  • American fighter in Ukraine traumatized by his experiences on the battlefield

    American fighter in Ukraine traumatized by his experiences on the battlefield

    CBS News

  • "My Life of Crime" podcast Season 3 debuts today

    “My Life of Crime” podcast Season 3 debuts today

    CBS News

  • Mary Peltola, Alaska's new congresswoman, readies for tough November race

    Mary Peltola, Alaska’s new congresswoman, readies for tough November race

    CBS News

  • Candidates in key races face off in debates as Election Day approaches

    Candidates in key races face off in debates as Election Day approaches

    CBS News

  • Click to expand

    UP NEXT

    UP NEXT

    When a Twitter account is classified as “read-only,” it means the user is restricted from tweeting, retweeting and liking content, the platform’s website says. The user can still read their timeline and send direct messages to their followers. 

    “The duration of this enforcement action can range from 12 hours to 7 days, depending on the nature of the violation,” the site also reads.

    In wake of his statements, West was also restricted on Instagram after posting screenshots of an alleged conversation with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in which West suggested Combs was being controlled by Jews. However, his Instagram account resumed posting on Wednesday. 

    Several brands have also cut ties with him, including Adidas, Balenciaga, Gap, Peloton and talent agency CAA.

    Leave a Reply