I don't think it's all that sudden, he's had a steady stream of scandals for as long as I've been paying attention (years), and he's increasingly in the public eye because he is increasingly relevant (buying Twitter being one reason he's more relevant now than in the past). So there's an increasing public interest in reporting on his steady stream of controversial behavior.

Yeah, I can't imagine why anyone is interested in the world's richest man figuratively pulling down his pants down in public, shitting in his hands, and flinging it at everyone who upsets him, almost non-stop for years. All reporting on his antics must be a conspiracy. He clearly doesn't want attention, that's why he maintains such a low profile. Leave elmu alone!!!

How are people surprised or decide it must be a conspiracy or personal vendetta when the media cover a powerful person who routinely acts like a complete lunatic in public, and the coverage ends up (gasp!) slanting negative?

Middle manager? I recommend you look who Gwynne Shotwell is within Space X.

To spare you the googling, she is the CEO, but I guess under Elon Musks "leadership" everyone else is just middle management.