Introduction to Matt Mullenweg’s Past Controversies
In a recent interview, Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress, referenced three long-forgotten scandals and controversies from his past. He used these examples to illustrate how the current WP Engine scandal may also fade from memory over time. One notable example he mentioned was the Hot Nacho Scandal, which led to Google banning WordPress.org and generated negative press in mainstream media.
Understanding the Impact of Past Controversies
Imagine being under the weight of global-level scrutiny. Then, consider how the person who survived it may have been shaped by the experience and what they went on to accomplish. Mullenweg’s past experiences may provide context for why he believes the WP Engine dispute isn’t his “first rodeo” and why he thinks this controversy will eventually be forgotten.
Matt Recalls Three Forgotten Controversies
Mullenweg cited three scandals and controversies from the past ten to twenty years to show how he’s made mistakes and defended the WordPress open source project. The three incidents he mentioned include:
- The 2005 Hot Nacho Scandal
- The 2007 Easter Theme Massacre
- The Chris Pearson Thesis Conflict
The Hot Nacho Scandal
The Hot Nacho scandal is named after an SEO software company that paid Matt Mullenweg to host web pages on WordPress.org, resulting in Google banning the WordPress.org website. At the time, Mullenweg was working at CNET and developing WordPress on the side. The news was featured in publications such as Ars Technica, eWeek, MSNBC, Slashdot, and The Register.
Rebuked By Jason Kottke
Jason Kottke, a widely respected blogger, criticized Mullenweg for contributing to spam noise on the web. Kottke wrote: “WordPress is using its high Page Rank to game Google AdWords. This stinks like last week’s fish. Is WordPress and wordpress.org an open source project like we’ve all been told or is it a company? Either way, contributing to spam noise on the web is annoying.”
Hot Nacho Explains His Side
The founder of the Hot Nacho company explained that they were testing their SEO writing software on WordPress.org. Matt agreed to accept payment to host the articles, cloaking the links to them so site visitors wouldn’t see them. The Hot Nacho founder begged the world not to harshly judge Mullenweg, stating: “For my part, I invariably place some advertising on such pages because I’m also not corporate sponsored… It was a blunder that Matt used invisible links to connect to the Articles collection. It wasn’t necessary and I’m sure he regrets having done it that way. But please cut the guy some slack. …Sure, it was a mistake, but it was motivated by the fact that he’s a really good guy.”
Transformative Event
The Hot Nacho Scandal may have been a formative experience for a young Mullenweg, exposing him to intense criticism, rebuke, and anonymous threats. According to Mullenweg at the time, he said that what others say doesn’t matter as much as what you do and acknowledged that he was developing a thicker skin. Understanding what the Hot Nacho Scandal was helps put some context to how Mullenweg is approaching the WP Engine Conflict today.
Conclusion
Mullenweg’s past controversies, including the Hot Nacho Scandal, have likely shaped his approach to the current WP Engine dispute. By referencing these forgotten scandals, Mullenweg aims to illustrate that even the most intense controversies can fade from memory over time. As he navigates the current conflict, it’s clear that his past experiences have prepared him for the challenges he faces today.