Y Combinator President Garry Tan's Apologetic Response to a Deleted Twitter Threat

Garry Tan, the president of Y Combinator, has once again made headlines for his social media posts on X. His latest controversy has sparked debate and raised questions about the tone he sets as a leader in the startup community.

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The Post That Sparked Outrage

On Friday night, Tan published a post that many found jarring due to its violent tone. Addressing seven San Francisco supervisors who oversee local government services, Tan wrote:

‘Fuck Chan Peskin Preston Walton Melgar Ronen Safai Chan as a label and motherfucking crew… And if you are down with Peskin Preston Walton Melgar Ronen Safai Chan as a crew fuck you too… Die slow motherfuckers.’

The post was met with shock and outrage, with some wondering if Tan’s X account had been hacked. However, in an interview later that day, Tan claimed that the post was written during a "drunken tirade" and that he didn’t mean to offend anyone.

A History of Controversy

This is not the first time Tan has made headlines for his social media posts. In recent months, he has been open about personal grievances on X and has become increasingly hostile towards progressive politicians in San Francisco, whom he blames for many of the city’s woes.

Some have questioned whether Tan’s behavior sets a good tone as the president of Y Combinator, one of the most powerful startup programs in the world. Others have defended him, saying that he is human and deserves forgiveness.

A Pattern of Behavior

Tan’s X posts have been criticized for being inflammatory and divisive. In recent months, he has:

Engaged in a public spat with Neo, a smaller startup accelerator program
Blamed progressive politicians for San Francisco’s problems
Made personal grievances on social media

While some may see these actions as par for the course in today’s toxic online environment, others worry that they set a bad example for the startup community.

A Response from Y Combinator

In response to the controversy, Y Combinator released a statement saying that Tan’s post was "not representative of the company’s values." The statement also emphasized that Y Combinator is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive community.

As the startup world continues to grapple with issues of tone and behavior, Garry Tan’s X posts serve as a reminder of the importance of leadership and setting a good example.