S Poddar
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has once again managed to get in the thick of trouble with a weird and unsettling remark aimed at pop icon Taylor Swift. Musk has used his social media a number of times to stir up controversy, but with this most recent outburst, the billionaire seemingly crossed another line.
In another awkward moment, Musk posted on his social media platform-formerly called Twitter-that he wanted to “give Taylor Swift a child” after she publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Swift was praising Harris, who did an amazing job in one recent political debate. Musk’s complete message was as follows: “Fine Taylor. you win. I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life.” For most, this was what Musk probably intended as humor; the elements were all there, going from quite disturbing and inappropriate to simply being a threat as opposed to a tease.
His latest comments have included massive outrage, even from his daughter, Vivian Wilson. Wilson, who earlier broke ties with Musk after a public spat with him, immediately took to the platform Threads to express her anger against her father’s words. Referring to his comment as “heinous incel nonsense,” she added, “It’s just abhorrent. Don’t let people talk to you like that. It’s disgusting, it’s belittling, and incredibly sexist. You deserve better.” Her sharp rebuke captures the exasperation many have toward Musk’s increasingly unhinged behavior online.
While Musk has long had a reputation for making provocative statements, this incident feels like a new low. Repeatedly, he seems to be reaching for some semblance of cultural and political engagement via off-color jokes or edgy comments that appear part of a broader pattern of attention-seeking behavior. But despite being one of the richest, most powerful people in the world, Musk comes off as totally insecure and in desperate need of validation by the online community-particularly his legions of followers who get a kick out of his controversial takes.
It’s hardly the first time Musk’s personal life has seen him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The daughter, Vivian, went public with her decision to sever ties with him, citing his problematic views as part of that decision. Musk has also continuously used the wrong gender when referring to her and has joked about her identity as his “son” while blaming her transition for what he called being “infected by the woke mind virus.” Those comments showed intolerance that stood in jarring contrast to the progressive entrepreneur Musk once tried to present himself as.
But Musk’s behavior online speaks to a wider trend in which rich and influential people use their forums to engage in toxic behavior. Far from being a singular case, Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh recently abandoned her father’s surname for the alternative “Jolie,” in what was largely seen as an armed truce between the actress-turned-humanitarian and herself. Pitt’s son also made headlines in 2020 when he called his father a “world-class a***hole” on Father’s Day. These public breaks further point to a common underlying problem that many celebrity figures face: not only does great personal cost go hand in hand with fame and money, but it does indeed takes its toll on close family relationships.
The estrangement between Musk and his family has also called out the emotional cost his erratic behavior may be exacting from those closest to him. While Musk constantly tries to validate himself through social media, he loses his daughter and an ever-growing number of persons attached to a persona at least not so annoying. The downward spiral from technological genius and innovator to irrelevant online troll is steep indeed, and events such as his recent comments about Swift only help complete the picture.
Vivian Wilson’s public calling-out of her father echoes a number of other public figures in this country who have made efforts to dissociate themselves from helicopter or problematic parents. Actress Drew Barrymore famously emancipated herself at 14, and Britney Spears had to fight years for relief from a protracted conservatorship ruled over by her father. These stories underpin how complicated and hurtful family dynamics can be, particularly where fame and power are involved. Musk’s relationship with his daughter seems yet another example of this playing out in the public eye.
The more Musk acts out in what many perceive as desperation-staying relevant-the clearer the fallout from those actions is. The real-world consequences of his words were cemented in public-and personal-rejection by his daughter. A man once touted as a visionary, Musk’s actions have increasingly painted a picture of someone out of touch-not just with societal norms but also with the values of empathy and respect that underpin healthy relationships.
In the end, Musk’s comment about Taylor Swift is just one more example in an emerging arc of disturbing behavior. An increasingly unhinged set of statements is taking him further from the genius-innovator stereotype and closer to that of a social media troll, more interested in stirring controversy than fostering innovation. And while Musk may not seem to care one way or another about criticisms from his detractors, his own daughter’s public renunciation says it all.
