Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday via Skype, but it was his unusually long beard that quickly made waves on his own social network.
Senate Republicans subpoenaed Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to respond to the censorship of articles from the New York Post about Hunter Biden using information obtained from the laptop of former vice president Joe Biden’s son.
Although Dorsey later backtracked on some of the censorship, which saw several high profile accounts locked for attempting to share the articles, the New York Post’s account is still inactive.
Tuesday’s proceedings included several newsworthy moments, including Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blasting Dorsey for attempting to deny that such censorship impacts elections and the Twitter CEO insisting that holocaust denial is not misinformation. Nevertheless, a host of Twitter users of all political persuasions saw fit to draw attention to Dorsey’s massive, unkempt “lockdown” beard.
Experts fear uncontrolled growth of Jack Dorsey’s beard pic.twitter.com/0qNaFJdWfi
— Jon Depot Skeleton (@Jon_Christian) October 28, 2020
. @jack beard report: wizard length pic.twitter.com/odEoy362US
— Taylor Hatmaker (@tayhatmaker) October 28, 2020
This hearing with the CEO of Twitter is a waste of time.
If I wanted to be lied to by Jack Dorsey, I could just read his tweets.
I don’t need to be further insulted watching him lie under oath with a disgustingly unkempt beard.
— RAM (Richard Armande Mills) (@RAMRANTS) October 28, 2020
So @jack has a real ‘kneel before Zod’ vibe going on with his beard, except the stoner version. pic.twitter.com/QN4IrHUjOo
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) October 28, 2020
Not to distract from the US hearing into big tech today — it’s important — but Jack Dorsey’s lockdown beard is a real 2020 mood. pic.twitter.com/T6j1PxcfSx
— Jen Dudley-Nicholson (@jendudley) October 28, 2020
Do we need to add @Jack to the No Fly list? pic.twitter.com/uRQsPShLpO
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) October 28, 2020
Jack Dorsey’s beard is the least unwise part of his appearance this morning so far.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) October 28, 2020
on a lighter note… jack dorsey’s beard?!?
— Jill Wagner (@jillwagnerTV) October 28, 2020
How could you regulate this beard? @jack pic.twitter.com/8t7ByAm7BE
— Scott Nover (@ScottNover) October 28, 2020
Jack’s been studying the Rasputin drip meme a lil too hard pic.twitter.com/wTFuzMJstC
— Jacob Gallagher (@jacobwgallagher) October 28, 2020
Some were fans of the new look. Reason senior editor Elizabeth Nolan Brown described Dorsey’s “Rasputin beard” as “awesome.” (RELATED: Chris Wallace Presses Gretchen Whitmer On Biden Business Dealings: ‘It Sure Sounds Like Influence Peddling’)
I can’t be the only one who thinks Jack Dorsey’s Rasputin beard is awesome? https://t.co/zIcYsTzjEA
— Elizabeth Nolan Brown (@ENBrown) October 28, 2020
Come for the robust discussion on Section 230. Stay for Jack Dorsey’s beard:
CEOs from Twitter, Facebook, Google face grilling on moderating content – ABC News – https://t.co/m4NWlh8sAK via @ABC
— Allison Pecorin (@AllisonMPecorin) October 28, 2020
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has a remarkable beard. pic.twitter.com/1NUZmp2ZCy
— Dylan Stableford (@stableford) October 28, 2020
Others argued against casting the first stone.
Everyone tempted to mock Jack Dorsey’s pandemic beard/vibe: walk over to a mirror right now. Take a look. Then decide whether you’re in a position to fire off that tweet. I did this and I am not.
— Richard Hall (@_RichardHall) October 28, 2020
Finally, conservative commentator Matt Walsh said Dorsey should “be proud of” his beard and that “beard-shaming” should only take place for those without them.
Look I’m no Jack Dorsey fan but I will not tolerate any beard-shaming on my timeline. The man has a glorious beard. He should be proud of it, if nothing else. Never shame another man for his beard. Only shame men for not having one. pic.twitter.com/gaSSlPtBfI
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 28, 2020