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Elon Musk Calls Out Twitter For $7.75 Million Severance Payment to Whistle-Blower

Photo by Alexander Shatov via Unsplash

Elon Musk Calls Out Twitter For $7.75 Million Severance Payment to Whistle-Blower

By Movieguide® Staff

As Twitter’s lawsuit against Elon Musk develops, the Tesla CEO pointed out that Twitter’s $7.75 million severance pay to Pieter “Mudge” Zatko—the company’s former head of security—is yet another reason for justifying his exit from the $44 billion deal.

“Twitter did not seek Defendants’ consent… before making this payment nor was this payment disclosed to Defendants,” the letter, published on Sept. 9, read. “In fact, Defendants only learned of this payment when Twitter filed the separation agreement with the court on Sept. 3, 2022.”

In a Sept. 12 letter, Twitter’s lawyers denied Musk’s argument, writing: “Twitter has breached none of its representations or obligations under the Agreement.

“As was the case with each of your prior purported terminations, the Musk Parties’ third purported termination is invalid for the independent reason that Mr. Musk and the other Musk Parties continue to knowingly, intentionally, willfully, and materially breach the Agreement,” Twitter wrote.

Movieguide® previously reported:

Two months have passed since Elon Musk announced that he would now longer move forward with his deal to buy Twitter due to a lack of transparency from the company over the number of fake accounts and spam on the social media app.

Now, with a former Twitter exec testifying to the company’s lack of effort to mitigate the number of bot accounts on their site, Musk’s lawyers note that Musk is justified in his decision to back out of the $44 billion deal.

“Although the Musk Parties believe this termination notice is not legally necessary to terminate the Merger Agreement because they have already validly terminated it pursuant to the Jul. 8 Termination Notice, the Musk Parties are delivering this additional termination notice in the event that the Jul. 8 Termination Notice is determined to be invalid for any reason,” an Aug. 29 letter from Musk’s lawyers to Twitter chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde reads, according to Variety.

“The facts supporting these breaches, which were withheld from the Musk Parties but known to Twitter as of the date of the Merger Agreement and at the time of the Jul. 8 Termination Notice, provided additional bases to terminate the Merger Agreement as of that date and provide additional bases to terminate the Merger Agreement today if the Musk Parties’ termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to the Jul. 8 Termination Notice is determined to be invalid for any reason,” the letter reads.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.