Mark Zuckerberg alleges that Elon Musk is unwilling to commit to a specific date for their anticipated cage match, citing a lack of seriousness on the part of the Twitter CEO.
“I think we can all agree Elon isn’t serious and it’s time to move on,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Threads social platform.
“I offered a real date… Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.”
Musk quickly responded on Twitter, now known as X, saying: “Zuck is a chicken”.
The Tesla boss said he would head to Silicon Valley on Monday: “Can’t wait to bang on his door tomorrow.”
In response to a user’s suggestion that Zuckerberg might be hesitant about the match, Musk made a reference to a well-known American fast-food chain recognized for its chicken products.
“He can’t eat at Chick-fil-A because that would be cannibalism,” Musk posted.
The two prominent figures in the tech industry have engaged in a series of exchanges on social media regarding their intentions to participate in a highly anticipated charity match.
In a recent statement on Friday, Musk revealed that the bout is slated to occur in Italy. This decision comes in the wake of Italian authorities verifying ongoing discussions about organizing a significant charitable occasion.
“I spoke to the PM of Italy and minister of culture,” Musk wrote, referring to Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister. “They have agreed on an epic location.”
In response, Zuckerberg posted a photo of himself shirtless and pinning down an opponent in his “backyard octagon”.
A martial arts enthusiast who has taken part in jiujitsu competitions, Zuckerberg said: “I love this sport and I’ve been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me.”
“If he ever agrees on an actual date, you’ll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on.”
Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian culture minister confirmed speaking to Musk about “how to organise a great charity event evoking history” but said any match “will not be held in Rome”.
Mr Sangiuliano said any event with Musk would raise “a huge sum, many millions of euros, (that) will be donated to two important Italian paediatric hospitals”.
The two technology magnates, who have engaged in occasional indirect exchanges, transitioned into direct competitors following the launch of Zuckerberg’s Meta and its Threads platform, which bears resemblance to Twitter, in early July.
Musk noted on Friday that he may need to undergo “minor surgery” to resolve a “problem with my right shoulder blade rubbing against my ribs.”
“Recovery will only take a few months,” he added.
The world’s richest person has a titanium plate holding two vertebrae together but said Friday it is currently “not an issue”.