Joyce Carol Oates Critiques Elon Musk in Viral Tweet Storm

Elon Musk faced significant backlash over the weekend after receiving a sharp critique from acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates on the platform X, previously known as Twitter. Oates, known for her incisive commentary and over 60 published novels, responded to Musk’s lengthy post defending his substantial salary package of $1 trillion with a tweet that quickly garnered attention.

In her tweet, Oates questioned Musk’s apparent disconnect from cultural appreciation, 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.” She highlighted a range of everyday pleasures, such as nature, literature, and sports, which she implied Musk neglects to acknowledge. Oates concluded her critique by asserting, “The poorest persons on Twitter may have access to more beauty & meaning in life than the ‘most wealthy person in the world.’”

The tweet became a sensation, prompting Musk to respond defensively. He took refuge in the comments of his supporters, who claimed Oates’s assertions were unfounded. Musk’s anger was palpable as he referred to Oates as a “lazy liar” and criticized her writing style. He further remarked, “Eating a bag of sawdust would be vastly more enjoyable than reading the laboriously pretentious drivel of Oates.”

Following the public spat, Musk attempted to counter Oates’s claims by posting about films and books he had purportedly enjoyed, including comments like “Great movie,” about the 2014 action film Edge of Tomorrow and “Fifth Element has great style” regarding the 1997 sci-fi classic. Critics noted that Musk’s comments often seemed superficial, with some questioning whether he had genuinely engaged with the material he discussed.

In a surprising twist, shortly after the exchange, advertisements began appearing that featured Musk and promoted Blinkist, a service that offers summaries of books for those who do not read extensively. The ads claimed Musk “reads a lot,” adding to the irony surrounding the situation.

Interestingly, Oates later clarified that her intention was not merely to roast Musk but to express her curiosity about why someone with such vast resources might show little appreciation for cultural enrichment. “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,” she said.

The incident underscores the ongoing discourse surrounding public figures and their engagement with culture, as well as the dynamics of social media interactions between influential personalities.