Ashton Kutcher kicked the hornets' nest that is the Uber scandal on Wednesday with a series of tweets criticizing "shady" journalists.
Kutcher weighed in on the controversy that rocked the company this week, when Uber Senior Vice President Emil Michael suggested hiring "opposition researchers" to dig up dirt on journalists who have written critically about the company. Michael specifically focused on PandoDaily founder Sarah Lacy.
Kutcher is an Uber investor, and apparently didn't see what was wrong with the company doing some digging on "shady" journalists.
What is so wrong about digging up dirt on shady journalist? @pando @TechCrunch @Uber— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
For the most part, Uber investors have been been mum on the subject, but Kutcher's tweets continued.
We are all public figures now! “@RussADeCastro: @aplusk Depends if they are a PUBLIC FIGURE, like you, or not. http://t.co/ZFemzZshxV”— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
I believe we live in a day were the first word has become "the word"— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
Rumors span the globe before anyone has an opportunity to defend them selves.— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
Everyone is guilty and then tasked to defend themselves publicly.— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
Questioning the source needs to happen... Always!— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
So as long as journalist are interested and willing to print half truths as facts... Yes we should question the source.— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
After his rant, Kutcher was quick to distance himself from Uber, noting that he was tweeting in a personal capacity.
To be clear I speak for my self not @Uber— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
This should be fun... Here comes the part where journalist explain why they should be exempt from ridicule and judgement and probing...— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
U r all right and I'm on the wrong side of this ultimately. I just wish journalists were held to the same standards as public figures.— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
Unsurprisingly, Twitter users reacted accordingly.
@aplusk @pando @Uber Because journalists have a lot less power than a billion $ co, and are tasked with stewarding the truth vs. profit.— Alexia Tsotsis (@alexia) November 19, 2014
I dug up something incredibly embarrassing about Ashton Kutcher's past. pic.twitter.com/9DoIYt88oC— Tom Gara (@tomgara) November 19, 2014
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