Elon Musk Accused of Racism After Lupita Nyong’o Comments

Elon Musk faced accusations of racism after he seemed to agree with criticism of Lupita Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey.

Musk, 54, responded on X to a post by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh, who said, “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world.’”

Walsh also mentioned that Nolan “knows that he would be called racist if he gave ‘the most beautiful woman’ role to a white woman.”

Musk replied, “True.”

This response sparked immediate backlash from users who accused the Tesla and SpaceX CEO of supporting a racist attack on Nyong’o, who will play both Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic.

One user wrote, “So this is just open racism.” Another said, “Imagine being so racist you have to pretend that Lupita ISN’T one of the most beautiful people alive.”

Nyong’o, 43, is an Oscar-winning actor known for 12 Years a Slave, Black Panther, Us, and A Quiet Place: Day One. Nolan confirmed her dual role in the film during recent promotions for The Odyssey, scheduled for release on July 17.

The backlash focused on Helen of Troy, a figure from Greek mythology often described as the most beautiful woman in the world.

Critics claimed Nyong’o did not match their view of the character, while others defended the casting and argued that the attacks were based on race and beauty standards.

Musk later commented on another post accusing Hollywood of “race-swapping” historical characters, according to UNILAD Tech. Social media users criticized Musk for seeming to support the idea that Helen should be portrayed by a white actress.

The controversy grew after reports that Nolan’s film also features Elliot Page in a rumored role related to Achilles. The View hosts discussed the backlash this week, with Whoopi Goldberg telling critics they did not have to watch the film if they disagreed with the casting.

Sunny Hostin also defended the casting on The View, emphasizing the mix of cultures that influenced Greek mythology and rejecting the notion that a Black actress could not portray Helen. Sara Haines praised Nyong’o and stated that the actress embodied the idea of Helen’s legendary beauty.

Alec Baldwin responded to Musk’s comments on Instagram, sharing a photo of Nyong’o after Musk amplified criticism of her casting, according to People. Baldwin’s post added another public defense of the actress as the online dispute expanded beyond X.

Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of the summer’s most anticipated films. The project follows his Oscar-winning success with Oppenheimer and adapts Homer’s ancient poem about Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War.

The film has already attracted significant attention for its cast and IMAX release. Reports indicated that some premium-format screenings sold out well in advance, even as the casting debate continued online.

Musk has not publicly retracted his “True” reply. Nyong’o has not responded publicly to the latest wave of criticism.

This reaction added another high-profile dispute to the release of Nolan’s film, but it also shifted much of the focus back onto Nyong’o and the attacks aimed at her casting before audiences have seen the movie.