A dramatic leadership dispute at Automattic has taken another unexpected turn after WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg told employees that he is once again in control of the company.
Mullenweg reportedly posted a message in Automattic’s internal Slack workspace early Friday, claiming that the company’s board had reached an agreement and that he had resumed control as CEO. The message comes just days after Automattic’s board reportedly voted to remove him from the CEO role and place him on paid leave.
The situation remains unclear, however, as Automattic has not publicly confirmed that Mullenweg has returned to the position.
Mullenweg Announces His Return
In his Slack message, Mullenweg appeared to acknowledge the extraordinary events of the previous 48 hours while presenting his return as a resolution between himself and the board.
He wrote that the board was “back in agreement” and that he was once again running Automattic. He also suggested that there had been significant confusion surrounding the situation and said he still had considerable respect for the people involved.
The message was accompanied by a YouTube link to LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out,” adding an unusual and somewhat playful tone to an otherwise serious corporate dispute.
Mullenweg’s latest statement has not been independently confirmed by Automattic’s board.
Leadership Changes Add to the Confusion
The latest development follows a major shake-up earlier in the week.
Automattic’s board reportedly voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence and appointed Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO. At the time, an Automattic spokesperson confirmed that Mullenweg was on leave and that Davies had taken over as interim chief executive.
But according to people familiar with the situation, employees have yet to receive a clear confirmation from the board that Mullenweg has officially returned.
Adding another layer of uncertainty, sources reportedly said Davies’ Slack account was deactivated.
These developments have left employees and observers trying to determine who is actually running the company.
Is Mullenweg Serious — or Trolling?
Mullenweg’s recent behavior has also raised questions about whether some of his Slack activity is intended to be provocative rather than an official announcement.
Reports indicate that he recently removed Slack administrators from Automattic’s workspace and made an unusual post describing himself as a “pirate,” using language that was reportedly out of character for him.
When asked directly whether he was trolling employees and the public, Mullenweg reportedly responded:
“I’m not a troll I’m a pirate, obviously.”
That response has done little to settle the uncertainty surrounding Automattic’s leadership.
Mullenweg Has Been Fighting Back
Since news broke about his removal as CEO, Mullenweg has remained active across social platforms and has repeatedly suggested that there is more happening behind the scenes than the public currently understands.
On Reddit, he pushed back against speculation about what his removal could mean for the wider WordPress and open-source ecosystem. He also indicated that he was fine despite the leadership turmoil.
On X, Mullenweg posted that “Things are different than they appear,” fueling further speculation about the internal dispute.
He also said he was looking for system administrators and security researchers to help move some of the services and infrastructure he had hosted through Automattic elsewhere.
At the same time, he indicated support for Davies in his role as interim CEO, creating an additional layer of ambiguity around his position.
Wider Fight Adds More Pressure
The Automattic leadership dispute is happening against the backdrop of an already contentious legal and business battle involving WP Engine.
Mullenweg has previously been involved in a highly public dispute with WP Engine, whose majority owner is private-equity firm Silver Lake. The conflict has included legal action and public disagreements over WordPress-related business and governance issues.
Mullenweg has suggested on social media that Silver Lake could have played a role in the latest events, although those claims have not been independently established.
On Friday, he posted another cryptic message on X:
“Boards are never boring.”
The post further highlighted just how unusual the situation has become.
What Happens Next?
For now, the biggest unanswered question is whether Mullenweg has genuinely regained control of Automattic or whether his Slack messages represent something else.
Automattic has yet to provide a definitive public explanation of the latest leadership situation, while employees appear to be waiting for clarity from the board.
With conflicting signals coming from internal communications, social media posts and leadership changes, the situation remains fluid.
One thing is certain: the Automattic leadership saga is far from over.
This story is developing and may change as Automattic or its board provides further clarification.
