Billionaire Elon Musk fired back at comedian John Oliver following a critical segment on his HBO show over the weekend. In the 30-minute exposé, Oliver ridiculed Musk for his management of Twitter, his association with antisemitic conspiracy theories, and other controversies surrounding his diverse business ventures.
Oliver didn’t mince words, remarking, “History is littered with titans of business who were shitty or broken people, from Thomas Edison to Henry Ford through Steve Jobs. The difference is, by and large, they didn’t open up their brain to let the whole world have a constant look inside, but Elon does. And the glimpses we get can be terrifying.”
Elon Musk (Credits: The Hill)
Unfazed by the criticism, Musk took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to respond on Monday. “Oliver was great several years ago but stopped being funny when he sold his soul to wokeness where humor is basically illegal,” Musk retorted.
This retort is in line with Musk’s ongoing crusade against mainstream media, as he consistently accuses them of attempting to tarnish his reputation and that of his enterprises. Just last month, Musk initiated legal action against the progressive watchdog Media Matters for America. The lawsuit was prompted by Media Matters, which published a report detailing how X placed advertisements next to offensive content on the platform, a revelation that triggered a mass exodus of advertisers from Musk’s company.
The exchange between Musk and Oliver underscores the growing tension between high-profile figures and media scrutiny, with Musk asserting his stance and defending against what he perceives as unfair attacks on his character and businesses.
