Elon Musk’s Pledge to Make Amends
Introduction
In the heart of California, where tech giants and small businesses coexist, a seemingly innocuous pie order turned into a bitter slice of disappointment. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, known for his ambitious ventures and bold promises, found himself at the center of a pastry predicament. Let’s unravel the layers of this sweet-and-sour saga.
The Pie Order That Went Awry
- The Initial Order:
- Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, placed an order for 4,000 mini pies from Giving Pies, a Black-owned bakery in San Jose.
- The Valentine’s Day order promised a sweet windfall of $6,000 for the small business.
- Chasing Payment:
- Voahangy Rasetarinera, the bakery owner, had previously handled large catering orders with tech companies.
- However, Tesla’s payment for the pie order became elusive, leaving Rasetarinera chasing invoices and juggling resources.
- Laura’s Apology and False Hope:
- On Thursday evening, a Tesla representative named Laura apologized for the delayed payment.
- Laura even increased the order to 4,000 pies, assuring Rasetarinera that money was not an issue.
- The Heartbreaking Twist:
- Despite the bakery team’s overtime efforts, Tesla remained silent on payment.
- Then, on Friday, Laura delivered the crushing blow: the order was no longer needed.
The Impact on a Small Business
- Left High and Dry:
- Rasetarinera took to Facebook, expressing her shock and frustration.
- “I had invested time, resources, and effort based on assurances from Tesla, only to be left high and dry,” she lamented.
- Resource Constraints:
- As a small business, Giving Pies lacked the luxury of infinite resources.
- Fulfilling Tesla’s order meant declining other catering gigs, exacerbating the financial strain.
Elon Musk’s Pledge
- “Make Things Good”:
- Musk, upon learning of the debacle, vowed to “make things good” with the bakery.
- His tweet echoed across social media, promising resolution.
- A Lesson for Corporations:
- The Tesla pie fiasco serves as a reminder to corporations: behind every order lies a livelihood.
- Small businesses rely on promises kept, not crumbs of false hope.
Has Elon Musk been involved in similar controversies before?
Promoting an Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory:
- In November 2023, Musk endorsed a post on X (formerly Twitter) that falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people. The conspiracy theory, known as the “Great Replacement,” alleges that minorities are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white populations. Musk later admitted the post was “foolish” and clarified his stance.
Fueling the ‘Pizzagate’ Fire:
- Just days before, in late November 2023, Musk was accused of promoting the long-debunked conspiracy theory known as “Pizzagate.” The theory alleges that high-profile Democrats ran a pedophile abuse ring from a Washington pizza restaurant. Musk posted and later deleted a meme referencing “Pizzagate” on X, adding fuel to the controversy.
Backing Controversial War Accounts:
- In October 2023, Musk supported controversial war accounts on X. The platform has faced criticism for failing to tackle the spread of disinformation about the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Other Divisive Moments:
- Musk’s takeover of X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 led to firing and rehiring of employees, defending himself over 2018 Tesla tweets, and openly mocking a disabled employee.
