Matt Mullenweg tells (trolls?) Automattic staff, saying he’s back in control after CEO ouster
Source: TechCrunch ↗ (cross-verified by 2 outlets — full list below)
Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress.com and chief executive of its parent company Automattic, announced on the firm’s internal Slack that he has regained control of the business after a brief ouster by the board. The message, seen by TechCrunch and corroborated by multiple employee sources, stated that the board “is back in agreement” and that Mullenweg is once again at the helm, after having been placed on a paid leave of absence only days earlier. The board’s earlier decision had installed chief financial officer Mark Davies as interim CEO, a move that was confirmed by an Automattic spokesperson at the time. In his new Slack post, Mullenweg paired the announcement with a link to LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and warned that the past 48 hours may have been a misunderstanding, expressing “huge respect and regard for those involved.” As of the article’s writing, Automattic had not formally responded to repeated requests for comment, and Davies’ Slack account had been deactivated.
The episode unfolded against a backdrop of internal turmoil and external legal pressure. After the board’s vote, Mullenweg took to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to contest the decision, insisting he was “just fine” and accusing the board of a “conspiracy.” He also hinted that the private‑equity firm Silver Lake, the majority owner of WP Engine—a hosting service currently suing Automattic—was part of a campaign to “destroy” his life. In parallel, Mullenweg posted a cryptic appeal for sysadmins and security researchers to help relocate data he hosted at Automattic, despite publicly supporting Davies as interim CEO. The rapid removal of all Slack administrators, his self‑described “pirate” persona, and the deactivation of Davies’ account have left observers uncertain whether the latest Slack message reflects a genuine power shift or a calculated trolling maneuver.
The fallout has sparked a mixed reaction among the WordPress community and Automattic staff. Mary Hubbard, executive director of WordPress.org, expressed relief on X, saying she was “pleased to see Matt Mullenweg return as CEO of Automattic.” Meanwhile, the company’s board remains silent, and no official confirmation of Mullenweg’s reinstatement has been issued. The uncertainty surrounding leadership could have broader implications for Automattic’s open‑source projects, its relationship with investors, and ongoing litigation with WP Engine. If Mullenweg’s claim proves accurate, the board’s earlier decision may be viewed as a brief, possibly strategic, power play; if not, the episode could signal deeper governance fractures within the company, potentially affecting employee morale, product development, and the broader WordPress ecosystem.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Confidence among international firms might wobble until the picture clears.
- ▶Foreign direct investment decisions can hinge on how this plays out.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
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- ▶Local suppliers who import goods might pass on any change in costs.
- ▶The cost of a weekly food shop can creep up in the background.
🏦Rates & Bankslow impact
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- ▶Borrowing costs might hold steady for now, but they can turn on fresh news.
- ▶Your bank is unlikely to act on this alone, but it will be watching.
❤️Healthlow impact
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- ▶Local health services could get busier depending on how things develop.
- ▶Worry has a way of spreading faster than the facts sometimes.
💷Wealthlow impact
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- ▶Your pension or investments might sway a touch as markets digest this.
- ▶Investors often reshuffle their holdings when stories like this break.
🏠Housinglow impact
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- ▶Mortgage deals could edge around if lenders read the wider mood.
- ▶Anyone mid-purchase might want to keep an eye on how this unfolds.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.