In a surprising turn of events, James Woods found himself blocked by none other than Elon Musk on X after the actor expressed his disagreement with the tech mogul's decision to eliminate the block feature on the platform, previously known as Twitter.
The renowned "Vampires" actor took issue with Musk's move to discard the block feature, which allowed users to prevent certain accounts from interacting with them on the platform. Woods voiced concerns that the removal of this feature could render the service "untenable" for individuals who value sharing their identities openly. Musk had earlier advised Woods to deactivate his account.
Woods made his discontent public on Friday, asserting, "If [Musk] follows through with this, I'll have no alternative but to withdraw from this platform," as he shared his sentiments.
Musk's choice to eradicate the block option, which permits users to halt interactions from specific accounts, has been met with scorn and ridicule from critics in recent days. On Sunday, Musk posted an update accompanied by the caption, "I'm enjoying myself by blocking people who are complaining about the disappearance of the blocking feature," paired with a laughing-crying emoji.
The co-founder of SpaceX and Tesla staunchly defended his decision to eliminate blocking, outlining a broader strategy to "enhance the mute function by rendering any posts from muted accounts invisible" to those who have muted them. He clarified that users would still have the ability to prevent direct messages from reaching them.
Supporters of the block feature argue that its removal may exacerbate harassment on the platform, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, including women and individuals of color.
Woods recounted an incident where he faced harassment during a libel lawsuit, highlighting how he was "targeted by thirty trolls enlisted to harass" him. The two-time Oscar nominee had filed a $10 million lawsuit in July 2015 against an anonymous Twitter user who had allegedly spread false information online, tarnishing Woods' reputation by labeling him a cocaine addict.
In a pointed query, Woods posted on Saturday, "How will 'X' differ from Jack Dorsey's problematic Twitter if @elonmusk eliminates the ability to block concerted harassment by trolls or organized political entities?" He expressed his disillusionment by suggesting that Musk's actions were motivated by a desire to protect advertisers and transform the platform into an online marketplace, veering away from his perceived stance as a champion of free speech.
In response to being blocked by Musk, Woods concluded that his adversary had proven his point by exercising his "prerogative." The actor affirmed that he has decided to stand firm, declaring he will "never depart" from X, vowing to maintain his presence and voice on the platform, spurred by an "astonishing" outpouring of support from his followers.
