Elon Musk declares ‘I am Adrian Dittmann’ after suspending reporter from X for exposing…

Elon Musk has reportedly banned journalist Jacqueline Sweet from X for publishing a probe that revealed Adrian Dittmann was a real person living in Fiji.

Updated on: Jan 7, 2025, 16:39:07 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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A weird conspiracy theory alleging that X owner Elon Musk uses another fake account to laud himself on his social media platform took a strange turn. A journalist Jacqueline Sweet, who refuted the notion, seemed to be banned from X after publishing a probe that revealed Adrian Dittmann was a real person living in Fiji.

Elon Musk supporters, on the other hand, welcomed Sweet's account suspension, claiming that her reporting violated ethical bounds by releasing personal information about Dittmann. (AP/X)

Sweet's article, which revealed Dittmann as a German businessman, was published in The Spectator World. Following this, Musk reacted with a typically cryptic post on X.

“I am Adrian Dittmann. It's time the world knew,” the Tesla CEO wrote, fueling mystery among his admirers.

Dittmann's mention in Sweet's article flagged as ‘violent’

Meanwhile, Sweet's managing editor informed that her account has been suspended for 30 days. Moreover, Dittmann's mention in her article has been flagged as having “violent or misleading content.”

Dittmann's X account has attracted attention for its ardent admiration of Musk for years, fueling speculation that the SpaceX CEO was using the profile to stand up for himself and advocate his beliefs.

While some claimed to have evidence that linked Musk to Dittmann directly, Sweet's probe appeared to put an end to all the speculation.

However, the move to suspend Sweet's account generated heated controversy. Opponents of Musk and X said that the platform suppressed journalism in order to preserve Musk's image.

“This is a direct assault on press freedom,” one user wrote.

Also Read: George Soros gets US' top civilian award, Elon Musk furious

Did Sweet interview Dittmann?

Musk supporters, on the other hand, welcomed Sweet's account suspension, claiming that her reporting violated ethical bounds by releasing personal information about Dittmann.

Sweet's report characterised Dittmann as the son of a German software engineer with a background in commercial enterprises such as a bottled water firm and marina.

Sweet's report on Dittmann was supported by his social media posts and his engagement in events such as the Musk Foundation's $100 million Xprize Carbon Removal Contest.

However, opponents point out that Dittmann was not interviewed for the report, leaving some information about his identity unclear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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