Joyce Carol Oates Critiques Elon Musk in Viral Twitter Exchange

Elon Musk faced a public backlash after a pointed critique from acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The exchange, which unfolded over the weekend, highlighted Musk’s perceived lack of cultural engagement and sparked significant discussion online.

Oates, known for her extensive literary contributions, responded to a tweet in which Musk boasted about his substantial wealth and a reported $1 trillion pay package. She questioned why someone with such resources did not express appreciation for common cultural experiences, stating, “So curious that such a wealthy man never posts anything that indicates that he enjoys or is even aware of what virtually everyone appreciates.”

The 87-year-old author continued her critique, suggesting that Musk appeared “totally uneducated, uncultured,” and that “the poorest persons on Twitter may have access to more beauty & meaning in life than the ‘most wealthy person in the world.’” Oates’ words resonated widely, quickly garnering attention and engagement from users on the platform.

In response, Musk took to the site to defend himself, launching a series of replies aimed at discrediting Oates. He described her as a “lazy liar” and expressed disdain for her writing style, claiming, “Eating a bag of sawdust would be vastly more enjoyable than reading the laboriously pretentious drivel of Oates.” Musk’s emotional reaction suggested he was unsettled by the remarks, leading him to engage even more on the platform.

Shortly after the exchange, Musk began posting about films and books, perhaps attempting to counteract Oates’ critique. He shared brief opinions on films such as “Edge of Tomorrow” and “The Fifth Element,” offering simple remarks like “Great movie” and “Fifth Element has great style.” These comments, however, were met with skepticism regarding his genuine engagement with the material.

Interestingly, shortly after Oates’ critique, advertisements began appearing on X for a service called Blinkist, which provides summaries of books. The ads claimed that Musk “reads a lot,” adding an ironic twist to the situation given the context of the critique.

Oates later clarified that her original intent was not to insult Musk, but rather to express curiosity about why someone with such wealth demonstrates little appreciation for cultural values. She noted, “Truly it was out of curiosity: why a person with unlimited resources exhibits so little appreciation or even awareness of the things that most people value as giving meaning to life.”

This exchange between Musk and Oates has sparked conversations about wealth, culture, and the responsibilities that come with significant influence. The incident illustrates how prominent figures navigate public scrutiny in the digital age, highlighting the complexities of personal branding and public perception.