Elon Musk in Court & San Francisco’s Celebrity Sightings
This week, San Francisco was buzzing with both legal drama and Hollywood glamour. From Elon Musk’s high-profile court case to a flurry of celebrity sightings, the city was the center of attention. The Waggle brings you the inside scoop on all the latest gossip.
Elon Musk’s Legal Showdown
Elon Musk spent Thursday and Friday at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in Civic Center, defending himself against accusations of manipulating Twitter’s market value prior to his acquisition and subsequent transformation of the platform into X. The case is being presided over by Judge Charles Breyer, brother to former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
During jury selection, Judge Breyer reportedly commented on the number of potential jurors who expressed strong negative feelings towards Musk. Reporter Joel Rosenblatt of the Gazetteer noted that Musk’s team requested special treatment from the court, with mixed results. While denied a reserved parking space, Musk was permitted to leave the courtroom before the jury – a deviation from standard protocol.
“There’s a sense of royalty around him, which I find repugnant,” Rosenblatt remarked, highlighting the preferential treatment. Read more about the case from the Gazetteer.
A humorous moment occurred during questioning of former Twitter head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Stacey Conti, when a prosecutor inquired, “What is a Slack channel?” prompting a chuckle from at least one juror.
Hollywood’s San Francisco Invasion
San Francisco also played host to a number of A-list celebrities this week. Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola was spotted with his son Roman, novelist Dave Eggers, and director Chris Columbus outside Cafe Zoetrope. They were filming a project, codenamed “City of Wild,” at locations including Dolores Park, Bernal Heights, and Point Bonita.
The project, which reportedly features a coyote, has attracted local talent. Painter Shrey Purohit managed to hand Coppola a postcard of his work and even landed a cameo in the film. Local rapper Larry June and historian Gary Kamiya are also involved. While initial reports suggested funding from tech giants like Laurene Powell Jobs and Jony Ive, sources close to the project dispute this claim. The film is expected to be released this spring as a marketing campaign showcasing San Francisco’s appeal.
Celebrity Sightings & Social Events
Julia Roberts and her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder, were seen at Sloat Garden Center in the Outer Sunset, purchasing pots (but no plants!). “Hangover” and “Crazy Rich Asians” star Ken Jeong attended the SF Symphony Lunar New Year concert and banquet, where tickets ranged from $1,500 to $10,000.
A private screening of the upcoming AMC series “The Audacity,” set in Palo Alto, was hosted by PR maven Brooke Hammerling at The Battery. The event drew a crowd of tech journalists, venture capitalists, and industry leaders. Former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo moderated a post-screening discussion, offering a cynical perspective on the current tech landscape. The show, a black comedy in the vein of “White Lotus” and “Succession,” promises plenty of inside jokes for the Bay Area tech crowd.
Remember to be respectful of celebrities’ privacy. Don’t repeat the mistakes of some fans who recently overwhelmed Alyssa Liu with unwanted attention. Let our Bay Area heroes live!
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