Ashton Kutcher is coming under fire for his statements on investigating journalists' sources, but it’s not exactly for what he’s saying, it’s who people believe he’s saying it for.
In short, Uber CEO Emil Michael started a debate when he suggested a team should be created to investigate the claims of journalists who have discredited the company.
In particular, he wanted to dig up dirt on Sarah Lacy, who has accused Uber of "sexism and misogyny." He said he wanted to spend “a million dollars” to look into “your personal lives, your families,” to set journalists in their place.
“The remarks attributed to me at a private dinner — borne out of frustration during an informal debate over what I feel is sensationalistic media coverage of the company I am proud to work for — do not reflect my actual views and have no relation to the company’s views or approach. They were wrong no matter the circumstance and I regret them,” he said in a statement, BuzzFeed reports.
Ashton Kutcher backed him up on Twitter. The only problem? He owns a stake in Uber. When people realized this, he clarified, “To be clear I speak for my self not @Uber.”
Having been the target of countless media reports himself, Kutcher went on a rant defending the idea that sources should be checked out. He then realized his position in the debate, writing “I'm on the wrong side of this ultimately" as a public figure.
Below are all the tweets in his rant.
What is so wrong about digging up dirt on shady journalist? @pando @TechCrunch @Uber
— 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
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
#GoodForRatings #TrafficSpike #WelcomeToShockJournalism
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
image via RogerWong/INFphoto.com
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