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Backlash is growing over Elon Musk hosting upcoming ‘SNL’ episode

Story at a glance

  • SNL announced that Musk will be hosting the May 8 show alongside musical guest Miley Cyrus.
  • Viewers have taken to social media to speak out against the decision, including cast members.
  • Commenters have raised issues with Musk’s past statements in relation to the coronavirus and unionizing.

“Saturday Night Live” (SNL) announced that Elon Musk will be hosting the May 8 episode and some are less than thrilled — including cast members.

Following the announcement that he would host alongside musical guest Miley Cyrus, Musk took to Twitter to write, “Let’s find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is,” followed by a purple devil emoji. ‘SNL’ cast member Bowen Yang responded by screenshotting the tweet and sharing it to his Instagram story with the caption, “What … does this even mean” with a sad face emoji.

Fellow “SNL” cast member Aidy Bryant shared a tweet by Bernie Sanders to her Instagram story, in a veiled jab at Musk, which read, “The 50 wealthiest people in America today own more wealth than the bottom half of our people. Let me repeat that, because it is almost too absurd to believe: the 50 wealthiest people in this country own more wealth than some 165 MILLION Americans. That is a moral obscenity.”

Musk is the third-richest person in the world.


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The backlash on Twitter was just as swift.

There are few things in this world that I want to see less than Elon Musk hosting SNL,” wrote one user.

Elon Musk hosting SNL is huge for guys still making ‘that’s what she said’ jokes who think they’d be great at hosting SNL,” wrote another.

“Having Elon Musk host SNL seriously feels like the show’s biggest misstep since having Trump host,” added another user.

Some Twitter users shared grievances stemming from previous remarks Musk has made. Last year, Musk referred to the reaction to the coronavirus pandemic as “dumb” and wouldn’t comply with California coronavirus restrictions to close his Tesla plant.

One user quoted Musk, saying, “‘The coronavirus panic is dumb.’ — Elon Musk, March 6, 2020.”

Others pointed to when he tweeted threatening to take away stock options from Tesla employees if they tried to unionize. The National Labor Relations Board made him delete the tweet.

Representatives for “SNL” have not issued a comment on the backlash at this time.


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Published on Apr 27,2021