Elon Musk’s Mother Faces Backlash Over Alleged Racist Remarks in Defense of Her Son

Maye Musk, the 76-year-old mother of tech mogul Elon Musk, has recently come under fire for comments perceived as racially insensitive while defending her son against anticipated media criticism. The incident has ignited widespread debate on social media platforms, with many accusing her of promoting racial stereotypes.

The Controversial Tweet

On November 5, 2024, Maye Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to preemptively criticize an upcoming article by New York Times tech reporter Ryan Mac, which she believed would portray her son negatively. In her since-deleted tweet, she stated:

“I’ve heard there is going to be an Elon hit piece by @RMac18 in the @nytimes tomorrow. Sadly, Ryan is an American Vietnamese reporter. My book is a bestseller in Vietnam. I don’t think my readers will believe the article if it’s hateful and/or dishonest.”

The mention of Mac’s ethnicity was met with immediate backlash, with critics arguing that it was irrelevant to the content of the article and served to undermine the journalist’s credibility based on his heritage.

Public Reaction

The tweet sparked a flurry of responses from both the public and media professionals. NBC News reporter Tyler Kingkade responded:

“For the record, @RMac18 was born and raised in California. Not that it matters. Calling out a reporter for their ethnic heritage is never appropriate.”

Users on social media platforms labeled Maye Musk’s comments as racist, with one user stating: “Sadly, Elon’s mom is a racist POS,” and another commenting: “Always promoting racism. Sad and twisted take.”

Ryan Mac himself addressed the situation with a touch of humor, updating his X bio to read “american vietnamese” and jokingly asking followers if anyone was engaging in “american vietnamese s*** tonight?”

Maye Musk’s Response

Despite the criticism, Maye Musk defended her position in a follow-up post, accusing The New York Times of a longstanding bias against her son:

“@nytimes has been lying about [Elon] for 15 years. Nothing new. It must be hard to be hateful and dishonest continuously. Hope Ryan is paid well.”

This response did little to quell the controversy, as many viewed it as a deflection from the initial issue of her referencing Mac’s ethnicity.

Broader Implications

The incident has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of public figures in addressing race and the potential impact of their words. It also highlights the challenges journalists face when their backgrounds are unnecessarily spotlighted, potentially diverting attention from their professional work.

As the discourse continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of focusing on content and actions rather than personal attributes, especially in public debates and media representations.