Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), has once again found himself at the center of a media firestorm.
In his latest social media outburst, Musk took aim at long-running talk show The View , calling it “a hangout for ignorant women” and urging followers to boycott the show.
His comments sparked an immediate backlash, with the show’s cast responding fiercely, turning the controversy into a major media event.
Elon Musk’s provocative statement
The controversy erupted when Musk, known for his unfiltered tweets, responded to a trending segment on The View in which the panel criticized his leadership at X. Taking his platform, Musk didn’t hold back:
“Why does anyone watch the view? It’s just a meeting place for ignorant women. Time to boycott.”
Her post quickly went viral, drawing both applause and outrage from social media users.
While his loyal followers supported the call to action, critics slammed the billionaire for what they saw as a misogynistic and dismissive statement.
The hosts of the view fire back
It didn’t take long for the co-hosts of The View to respond. In the next live broadcast, the entire panel — including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Sara Haines — took a segment on Musk’s comments.
Whoopi Goldberg, known for her outspoken and fearless commentary, addressed Musk directly:
“Elon, honey, you have a lot of money, but you don’t have a lot of class. If you don’t like what we say, don’t watch. But don’t try to silence us because we call you out.”
Joy Behar, another vocal co-host, added:
“This is the guy who thinks he’s the smartest person in the world, but he can’t handle a few women discussing his behavior? Give me a break.”
Sunny Hostin took a more analytical approach, pointing to what she described as a pattern of Musk’s “inability to take criticism.”
“Time and time again, we’ve seen Elon Musk react negatively when women — especially opinionated, vocal women — approach him. This is nothing new.”
Public reaction: divided and intense
As expected, Musk’s comments and The View ’s response ignited a firestorm online. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags like boycott and standwiththeview, reflecting the polarized nature of the debate.
Musk supporters defend him
Musk fans and several high-profile figures defended his stance, arguing that The View has a history of unfairly attacking conservative voices and successful entrepreneurs.
Prominent podcaster Joe Rogan weighed in on his show, suggesting that The View has lost credibility:
“It’s no longer a serious talk show; it’s just an outrage machine. Musk is right to call them out.”
Others echoed the sentiments about free speech, arguing that Musk should be allowed to express his opinions as much as the talk show does.
Reaction against musk
However, many saw Musk’s comment as an attack on women and criticized him for using gendered language to insult the hosts.
Feminist groups and several public figures condemned the billionaire’s remarks.
Hillary Clinton took to social media, writing:
“Dismissing women’s voices as ‘ignorant’ when they challenge power is an old trick. It doesn’t work.”
Actress and activist Alyssa Milano also spoke:
“Elon Musk’s comments aren’t just about vision. They’re part of a broader trend of powerful men belittling women who speak out about ideas.”
Advertisers and networks weigh in
With the controversy dominating headlines, media and business entities began to take notice.
ABC, the network behind The View , released a statement supporting its hosts and defending the show’s right to discuss public figures.
“Vision has been a platform for dynamic discussion for over two decades. We stand by our hosts and their right to express their views.”
Meanwhile, some advertisers have considered reevaluating their partnerships with X, especially given ongoing concerns about content moderation on Musk’s platform.
Musk responds again
Never one to back down, Musk doubled down on his criticism, posting another message that further fueled the fire.
“They can distribute, but they can’t get it.”
His response further cemented the divide, with some praising his defiance and others accusing him of deflecting genuine criticism.
What’s next?
This controversy is unlikely to go away quickly. The View remains one of the most-watched daytime talk shows, and Musk remains one of the most influential (and polarizing) figures in business and technology.
Some analysts speculate that this spat could actually boost ratings for The View , as controversies typically drive higher engagement.
Others wonder whether Musk’s comments will have any impact on the show’s advertisers or network executives.
Regardless of where public opinion lands, this latest clash highlights a growing cultural divide between powerful figures like Musk and mainstream media voices like The View — a battle that is far from over.
Final Thoughts
Elon Musk’s call for a boycott of The View and his disparaging remarks about its hosts have sparked a heated debate about the media, free speech and gender bias.
While some applaud his boldness, others see it as yet another example of his controversial and combative approach to public discourse.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Neither Musk nor The View are backing down, and this debate will continue to be a focal point in the ongoing cultural and political conversation.
