Billionaire Elon Musk, known for his atypical positions and his ability to generate media waves, has once again hit the headlines. On Tuesday, the boss of Tesla, SpaceX and X changed his pseudonym on his social network to adopt the name “Kekius Maximus”. This unexpected decision, accompanied by a change of profile photo to an image of “Pepe the frog”, immediately sparked speculation and controversy over the meaning of this choice.
The pseudonym chosen by Elon Musk appears to be a complex combination of references. “Kekius Maximus” could allude to the character of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the Roman general played by Russell Crowe in the film Gladiator. However, the term “kek”, popularized by some online groups, is also an expression used by trolls and far-right groups to replace “lol”. The association has heightened concerns about the billionaire’s use of controversial symbols.
Mixture of polemical and cultural references
Elon Musk’s new profile picture – “Pepe the Frog” – adds an extra layer of controversy. This cartoon character, initially conceived as a humorous meme, was hijacked by far-right groups, notably during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) even called it of “hate sign” because of its links. to discriminatory speeches.
Before this change of pseudonym, Elon Musk had tweeted: “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE. » A statement which seems to refer to the video game Path of Exile, particularly appreciated for its demanding “hardcore” game mode. This nod to a playful universe may seem innocuous, but in the context of its recent choices, it has been interpreted by some as an enigmatic message or a nod to a specific online community.
Explosion in the value of memecoin Kekius Maximus
The impact of the adoption of this pseudonym was not limited to the cultural sphere. The memecoin of the same name – a cryptocurrency inspired by an Internet meme – saw its value soar by nearly 1,400% in a few hours, according to data from CoinGecko. This surge reflects Musk’s considerable influence in cryptocurrency markets, where his tweets have already caused spectacular swings, as was the case with Dogecoin.
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As is often the case with Elon Musk, his exact intentions remain unclear. His lack of explanation for these choices fuels speculation. Is it a simple provocation, an attempt to play with the cultural codes of the Internet or a way of testing the limits of its media and economic influence?
Our file on Elon Musk
