People are allowed to change their minds. They did negotiate a pretty big employee compensation package as part of the deal. So I think OP was just trying to get a clickbait title and ride on the backs of those founders.
But that doesn't make it ok when you specifically say you won't and use that as a justification for your actions many, many times in public. Title doesn't seem sensationalist at all.
I'm sure when they were coming up with that statement, they had never in their wildest dreams imagined that a 12 billion dollar offer would ever be on the table. There is not a single human being on earth who can turn down that kind of money.
Sure it was the justification, but it makes zero sense as a justification. I’m not saying they should have offered equity, but I think logic is completely flawed and am surprised people bought into that logic.
