Actor and Uber investor Ashton Kutcher came out in support of an Uber executive on Twitter Wednesday for suggesting the company smear journalists who write critical news about the ridesharing service.
Uber senior vice-president of business Emil Michael suggested earlier this week that Uber should spend $1 million to hire a team of researchers to investigate the personal lives of journalists who write stories critical of the company — an idea Kutcher apparently endorses. (RELATED: Uber Tracked Journalist With Company Tool Called ‘God View’)
What is so wrong about digging up dirt on shady journalist? @pando @TechCrunch @Uber
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014
Kutcher went on to say that no one should be exempt from such speculation, because “we are all public figures now.”
We are all public figures now! “@RussADeCastro: @aplusk Depends if they are a PUBLIC FIGURE, like you, or not. http://t.co/ZFemzZshxV”
— 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
Kutcher made it clear he was speaking on his own behalf, not Uber’s, but said he wished “journalists were held to the same standards as public figures.”
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
Kutcher founded a venture-capital investment firm, A-Grade Investments, in 2010, and owns a stake in startups including Uber, Airbnb, Fab, Secret and others.