NBC News has reportedly temporarily blocked disinformation reporter Ben Collins from covering Twitter owner Elon Musk.
Media start-up Semafor reported NBC News suspended Collins, who has been “harshly critical of Musk,” from covering the billionaire “on NBC and MSNBC airwaves.”
“According to two sources, the network told Collins earlier this month that his criticism of Musk, which included mocking the billionaire’s ignorance about the company’s general counsel, was not editorially appropriate,” Semafor added.
Wait what? pic.twitter.com/qZBwlMqqR8
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 16, 2022
The article linked to an Oct. 30 tweet from Collins in which he wrote, “Unless [Musk’s] trying to tank this place on purpose, I’ve never seen somebody more out of their depth in my life.”
“The dog has caught the car and is now demanding the car pay for gas,” he added.
Unless he's trying to tank this place on purpose, I've never seen somebody more out of their depth in my life. The dog has caught the car and is now demanding the car pay for gas. https://t.co/Pp5TcaAsIl
— Tim Onion (@oneunderscore__) October 31, 2022
The article also pointed out Collins has been tweeting about Twitter’s decision to ban several journalists.
“Mastodon’s pretty … pretty good tonight,” he wrote about one of Twitter’s competitors on Thursday night.
Mastodon's pretty… pretty good tonight.
— Tim Onion (@oneunderscore__) December 16, 2022
As of Friday afternoon, Collins has not publicly commented on NBC’s reported move.
He did tweet a heart emoji, and several users replied to it to voice their disappointment with the network’s decision.
all Ben did was report the FACTS about who was being banned. https://t.co/Jp1OFu6lS7
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) December 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/MaryamShahLive/status/1603823395157823488
Collins was suspended for being overly critical of @elonMusk, specifically b/c of commenting on Musk’s knowledge of tech law. That’s… odd. Would CBS have banned Murrow for him being “too critical” of McCarthy when he knew nothing of first amendment law? https://t.co/1BHWe3NV0H
— Joseph Darius Jaafari (@JosephJaafari) December 16, 2022
Well, this certainly decreases my respect for @NBCNews. Free Ben Collins. https://t.co/AxYadE98dQ
— tom is ridin’ with kamala & coach. 🇺🇸🥥🌴🌊 blm. (@tomabernathy) December 16, 2022
CNN and The New York Times criticized Twitter for suspending journalists.
However, Semafor reports The Times has asked its reporters not to spar with Musk on Twitter.