Elon Musk is once again under fire—this time for a comment about Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney that has many calling him “creepy,” “tone-deaf,” and “grossly inappropriate.”
The Tesla and SpaceX billionaire, 54, sparked backlash after responding to photos of Sweeney at The Housemaid premiere, where the actress stunned in a glamorous, Marilyn Monroe–inspired gown with a plunging neckline. While most people praised her for channeling old Hollywood elegance, Musk decided to chime in with a crude attempt at humor.
On December 16, he reposted AI-generated footage showing a woman complaining of back pain related to a large bust—captioning it simply, “Can’t be easy.” The post instantly caught fire, with users accusing Musk of objectifying Sweeney and using his massive social media platform to make a sexist joke.
Within hours, his own followers turned against him. “Don’t you have a rocket to launch or something?” one user snapped, while another commented, “She’s 30 years younger than you. Creepy.” Others mocked the billionaire for acting like a “teenager with Wi-Fi” instead of a global tech leader.
The exchange quickly evolved into a wider discussion about “negging”—the manipulative dating tactic where someone gives backhanded compliments or subtle insults to undermine another’s confidence. Critics argued that Musk’s post fit the definition perfectly: an attempt to appear clever or flirtatious at someone else’s expense.
At his age and level of influence, many say Musk should know better. Instead of focusing on his companies or philanthropic efforts, the world’s richest man appears more interested in online provocation and juvenile jokes. To many, his post exemplifies how immense wealth doesn’t necessarily come with wisdom, empathy, or class.
As one viral reply summed it up: “You can buy rockets, but you can’t buy respect.”
