Twitter proprietor and chief micromanager Elon Musk stepped in to unlock the account of Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who acquired despatched to blue hen jail after altering his profile image to a selfie of him and his spouse with a lifeless antelope on a looking journey.

Daines’ account was quickly suspended for a number of hours on Monday and Tuesday as a result of his profile image, which exhibits the senator holding an antelope with a small quantity of blood dripping from its mouth, violated Twitter’s coverage in opposition to graphic violence, in keeping with CNN. A spokesperson for the senator instructed the outlet the suspension was “preposterous,” and that Twitter had initially stated the account would stay locked till Daines modified his profile photograph.

Not so, apparently. Sensing high-profile drama on his platform, Musk, the king of drama himself, referred to as Daines and restored his account on Tuesday afternoon.

The senator, for his half, took offense over the suspension, which he appeared to interpret as criticism of “Montana values.” In a assertion posted to Twitter on Tuesday, he thanked Musk for reaching out and performing rapidly to reinstate his account.

“The preliminary ban over the profile photograph of my spouse and me after a profitable Montana antelope hunt was disappointing given the truth that it’s no completely different than pictures Montanans share on social media on daily basis. It’s our Montana lifestyle and we’re happy with it,” Daines stated. “I’m glad Elon Musk acknowledges this. The remainder of the nation advantages from the acceptance of various ideas and values, together with Montana values.”

As of January, Twitter’s delicate media coverage thought-about “severely injured or mutilated animals” as graphic content material, which isn’t allowed on Twitter in any respect.

“We acknowledge that some folks might not wish to be uncovered to delicate content material, which is why we steadiness permitting folks to share one of these media with serving to individuals who wish to keep away from it to take action,” the corporate’s coverage reads.

In an electronic mail to Daines’ workplace obtained by CNN, Ella Irwin, Twitter’s vice chairman of belief and security, instructed the senator that profile photos of bloodied animals weren’t allowed on the platform as a result of there was nobody to label them as delicate, like what might be achieved with different pictures. In these circumstances, Twitter places the media behind a warning message that informs customers the content material is delicate and requires they purposefully select to see it.

“We don’t permit pictures of lifeless animals or blood in profile pictures as a result of we’re unable to label them as NSFW and preserve them from being seen by customers who particularly don’t wish to see graphic pictures,” Irwin stated within the electronic mail.

Based on Musk, not all bloodied animal pictures are the identical, although. The Twitter CEO addressed the Daines subject in a tweet on Tuesday and stated he would change the coverage. Solely pictures clearly exhibiting blood could be banned, Musk decreed.

“That is being fastened. Coverage in opposition to exhibiting blood in profile pic is being amended to ‘clearly exhibiting blood with out clicking on the profile pic’,” Musk tweeted. “The intent is to keep away from folks being pressured to see ugly profile pics.”

Underneath this modified coverage, Daines’ profile pic just isn’t in violation of Twitter’s guidelines. The blood on the antelope, which was not that apparent to start with, can’t be discerned if you happen to’re simply scrolling by means of Twitter. You need to click on on the profile pic to get a greater look. Choose for your self by trying out a few Daines’ tweets blasting President Joe Biden’s State of the Union beneath.

Even then, it may be argued that with this image, it’s important to know what you’re on the lookout for.