An official WordPress.org X account triggered open source backlash after mocking the FAIR decentralisation project, reigniting concerns over governance, centralised control, and leadership within the WordPress ecosystem.
An official WordPress.org X (formerly Twitter) account has sparked backlash across the open-source community after posting a mocking, sarcastic comment targeting the FAIR (Federated And Independent Repositories) Project, an open source initiative focused on decentralising WordPress plugin and theme distribution.
The post was widely condemned by developers and contributors as “childish,” “unprofessional,” and “undignified,” with many arguing that the tone was inappropriate for an official channel representing one of the world’s largest open source platforms. Several critical responses were later hidden by WordPress, further intensifying concerns around leadership and transparency.
FAIR was launched in 2025 to address risks associated with centralised control over WordPress software distribution. The initiative emerged after Matt Mullenweg and Automattic cut off WP Engine from updating its plugins, disrupting thousands of WordPress sites and exposing vulnerabilities in the existing ecosystem. FAIR aims to prevent any single individual or organisation from disrupting the free distribution of WordPress software by establishing a vendor-neutral, federated infrastructure.
The project has received backing from the Linux Foundation, which stated in June 2025 that vendor-neutral package management is critical infrastructure for modern content, e-commerce, and AI-driven systems, promoting innovation and protecting business continuity.
The controversy was triggered after a WordPress user shared an update issue linked to FAIR Connect version 1.2.2 on X. While the issue required some users to perform manual updates, release notes clarified that it stemmed from a previously fixed error and was not representative of the project’s broader goals.
Community figures, including SEO consultant Jono Alderson, criticised the official WordPress account’s conduct, warning that such behaviour undermines trust, damages the WordPress brand, and runs counter to open-source values of professionalism, neutrality, and inclusivity.
