Joy Behar Retracts Pro-Apartheid Claim Against Elon Musk on "The View"
Joy Behar, a co-host on the daytime talk show "The View," issued a partial retraction on Thursday after claiming that Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), was "pro-apartheid." The initial assertion, made during the show’s opening segment, ignited a firestorm of criticism, prompting Behar to address the controversy and walk back her statement, albeit with a degree of ambiguity.
The incident unfolded during a discussion about Musk’s recent attendance at a cabinet meeting and perceived influence on political discourse. Behar, known for her outspoken views and often acerbic commentary, suggested that Musk’s South African upbringing during the apartheid era inherently imbued him with a pro-apartheid "mentality." She went on to say that Musk was able to influence Donald Trump because he, Musk, "was pro-apartheid as I understand it."
"Elon Musk kisses his butt and strokes his tiny ego or big ego, whatever it is, and he doesn’t get to do, he can take a nap, while the guy, who was not born in this country, who was born under apartheid in South Africa, so has that mentality going on," Behar stated in the program’s first segment. "He was pro-apartheid as I understand it. I think this is just perfectly wonderful for Trump. He can take a nap and let this foreigner, foreign agent, you know, an enemy of the United States do his job."
The remark immediately drew criticism, both online and from conservative commentators. Behar’s co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, interjected during the discussion to point out that Musk is now a naturalized citizen of the United States, seemingly attempting to temper Behar’s accusations.
The segment continued to escalate the situation, drawing considerable backlash, ultimately prompting Behar to address the claim directly in the subsequent segment of the show.
"I’m getting some flack because I said that Musk was pro-apartheid. I don’t really know for sure if he was," Behar conceded. "He grew up in that time when it was full-blown before the great Nelson Mandela fixed that. He was around at that time. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. He might have been a young guy too, so don’t be suing me, okay, Elon?"
This half-apology, however, did little to quell the controversy. While Behar acknowledged her uncertainty regarding Musk’s personal views on apartheid, she maintained that his upbringing in South Africa during that period could have potentially influenced him. The retraction was perceived by many as insufficient and evasive, lacking a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the initial accusation.
The incident quickly reverberated across social media platforms, with users expressing a wide range of opinions. Critics condemned Behar’s initial statement as reckless and irresponsible, arguing that it was based on speculation and lacked factual basis. Some accused her of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and engaging in guilt-by-association tactics. Supporters, on the other hand, defended Behar’s right to express her opinion, highlighting Musk’s controversial statements and actions on X as justification for critical scrutiny.
Harrison Fields, a Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary, issued a scathing statement to Fox News Digital, denouncing Behar’s remarks. "Elon Musk has done more to improve the lives of Americans in four weeks than Joy Behar has done in her entire life," Fields stated, underscoring the political dimension of the controversy.
The controversy also resurfaced previous criticisms of media coverage surrounding Elon Musk’s background and upbringing. In 2022, following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, The New York Times published a report that characterized Musk as detached and sheltered from the realities of South African apartheid.
Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mother, vehemently refuted the report, arguing that it unfairly held her son accountable for the actions of the South African government during his childhood. "In South Africa, if you publicly opposed apartheid, you went to jail," Maye Musk wrote on social media. "In Russia, if you publicly oppose the war, you go to jail." She further emphasized that Musk was a child at the time and should not be held responsible for the policies of the apartheid regime. "@Nytimes are you going to blame children for decisions made by governments?" Maye Musk asked.
Behar’s retraction concluded with a comment on media bias, saying, "They’re allowed to say any lie they want, but we have to be really strict. That’s why this show’s important."
The incident involving Joy Behar and Elon Musk serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and accurate reporting, particularly when discussing sensitive historical and political issues. It highlights the potential consequences of making unsubstantiated claims and the need for media personalities to exercise caution and diligence in their public pronouncements.
