15 minutes ago: Elon Musk demands $70,000,000 in damages, suing Joy Behar and The View for defamation
Just fifteen minutes ago, on April 8, 2025, news broke that Elon Musk, the billionaire trailblazer behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has filed a jaw-dropping $70 million defamation lawsuit against Joy Behar and ABC’s daytime talk show, *The View*. The legal bombshell, lodged in a California court, accuses the outspoken co-host and the program of spreading “false and malicious” statements that Musk claims have tarnished his reputation and inflicted significant personal and professional harm. This high-stakes clash, pitting one of the world’s most influential innovators against a television institution, is already lighting up X and reigniting debates over free speech, media accountability, and the power of public platforms in Trump’s America.
The lawsuit’s roots trace back to a February 27 episode of *The View*, where Behar, 82, unleashed a fiery rant about Musk’s ties to President Donald Trump. Labeling him “pro-apartheid” and an “enemy of the United States,” she suggested his South African upbringing during apartheid shaped a sinister worldview. “He was born under apartheid in South Africa, so he has that mentality going on—he was pro-apartheid, as I understand it,” Behar said, per court filings. Musk’s legal team calls these claims baseless and inflammatory, arguing they were a deliberate attempt to smear his character before millions of viewers. Behar’s on-air backtrack—“I don’t really know for sure if he was,” followed by a quip, “So don’t be suing me, okay, Elon?”—did little to douse the flames, as Musk’s attorneys insist the damage was already done.
Musk, 53, isn’t taking it lightly. The $70 million demand reflects what he alleges is the scale of harm to his public image and the ripple effects on his empire—Tesla’s $1 trillion valuation, SpaceX’s $350 billion orbit, and X’s 200 million users. “Ms. Behar and *The View* knowingly broadcast falsehoods, portraying Mr. Musk as a supporter of a racist regime—accusations that are demonstrably untrue,” the suit reads, framing it as a “calculated attack” fueled by “malicious intent.” Born in Pretoria in 1971, Musk left South Africa at 17, became a U.S. citizen in 2002, and has never publicly endorsed apartheid—a point his team hammers home, citing his attendance at an anti-apartheid concert as a teen, per Walter Isaacson’s biography.
The timing’s electric. Trump’s second term—tariffs spiking gas to $4.20, Vance meeting Netanyahu, a Dow dip of 1,200—has Musk in the spotlight, co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Vivek Ramaswamy to slash federal spending. Behar’s barbs, tying him to Trump’s “tiny ego” and “foreign agent” status, hit a nerve as he navigates this role. On X, MAGA fans rally: “Elon’s suing the woke witches—$70M is just the start!” Others see it as Musk flexing muscle; his net worth, $421 billion (Forbes, April 2025), dwarfs ABC’s parent Disney’s $180 billion market cap. “Joy messed with the wrong billionaire,” an X user quipped, heart emoji in tow.
Behar and *The View* face a reckoning. Known for her sharp tongue, Behar’s weathered storms—mocking Musk’s son X in 2024, retracting a Hillary win claim in 2023—but a $70 million suit from a titan like Musk is uncharted turf. Neither she nor ABC has commented, though insiders say producers are gearing up to argue her remarks were opinion, protected under First Amendment law. Legal experts split: defamation hinges on proving “actual malice”—reckless falsehoods—and Behar’s walk-back might muddy that. “It’s a coin toss,” an X lawyer posted, “but $70M sends a chill.” A loss could curb *The View*’s bombast, a win bolster its bravado.
Musk’s no stranger to courtroom brawls—winning a 2019 “pedo guy” defamation case, sparring over X’s $44 billion buy—but this feels personal. His X megaphone, where “We love Elon Musk” trends, amplifies the stakes; a March 20 filing date (per some reports) aligns with his DOGE push, suggesting a broader war on critics. “He’s drawing a line—mess with me, pay big,” an X analyst mused, as Tesla’s Cybercab rollout and SpaceX’s Mars prep hum. Critics cry overreach: “$70M for hurt feelings? Grow up,” one tweeted, noting Behar’s platform pales beside Musk’s.
The fallout’s unfolding fast. X buzzes with “#SueTheView” and “#ElonRules,” splitting 47% “yes” to 53% “no” on lawsuit support (unscientific poll). Trump’s 47% approval (Gallup) rides the wave—Karoline Leavitt’s CNN ban nods to the same media fight—while libs lament, “First Dodgers, now this—Trump’s everywhere.” China tariff whispers and Kim Soo Hyun’s $5 million fire gift fade as Musk’s $70 million demand dominates. Win or lose, it’s a statement: in 2025’s chaos—tariffs, wildfires, Orban’s “Christian NATO”—Musk’s not just playing defense. He’s swinging back, and America’s watching, popcorn in hand. Who’ll blink? Fifteen minutes in, and the clock’s still ticking.
