Hillary Clinton Condemns Elon Musk for “Creepy” Comments About Taylor Swift
3 min read
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
Hillary Clinton didn’t hold back when addressing Elon Musk’s controversial remarks about pop superstar Taylor Swift. Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), made waves last week after responding to Swift’s political endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. Swift had publicly endorsed Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, calling Harris a “gifted leader” capable of steering the country with “calm and not chaos.”
However, Musk’s response to Swift’s endorsement sparked outrage. In a bizarre and unsettling reply, Musk tweeted, “Fine Taylor you win, I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life.” The comment was widely criticized for its sexist and inappropriate undertones, and social media users were quick to call out Musk for his behavior.
Hillary Clinton says Elon Musk offering to impregnate Taylor Swift was "rotten and creepy" and “kind of another way of saying rape I think.”
— Variety (@Variety) September 16, 2024
“I can’t understand why he says what he says. It just is beyond my imagination. For the so-called masters of the universe in the… pic.twitter.com/rBixx7eXg6
Hillary Clinton, a former presidential candidate and advocate for women’s rights, added her voice to the chorus of critics, calling Musk’s comments “rotten and creepy.” In an appearance on Kara Swisher’s podcast, Clinton expressed her disgust, stating that Musk’s remarks were “kind of another way of saying rape,” pointing out the disturbing implications of his words. She said that Musk’s behavior mirrors the misogyny she often associates with figures like Donald Trump and the so-called “masters of the universe” in the tech industry.
Did Elon Musk just threaten to rape Taylor Swift?!? pic.twitter.com/tZjoeNPsbp
— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) September 11, 2024
Clinton didn’t mince words when discussing the broader context of Musk’s remarks, suggesting that his misogynistic attitude is part of a larger pattern she sees in influential men who admire “toughness, brutality, and machoism.” She highlighted the stark contrast between Musk and Swift, describing the singer as a “self-made billionaire who brings joy to people and imparts life lessons, particularly to girls and women.” Clinton argued that powerful men like Musk and Trump can’t stand the success of women like Swift, and their crude comments reflect a deep-seated discomfort with her influence and accomplishments.
In her podcast appearance, Hillary Clinton also touched on the broader issue of misogyny within political and tech circles, linking Musk’s behavior to a larger culture of sexism she’s observed in these industries. She further emphasized how Swift’s success and ability to inspire others—especially women—stands in direct opposition to the toxic masculinity displayed by figures like Musk and Trump.
Swift’s endorsement of Harris was particularly notable because of her pointed remarks about Donald Trump’s use of AI-generated images falsely showing her endorsing him. Swift expressed concern over the dangers of AI and misinformation, which led her to publicly clarify her political stance ahead of the election. Swift’s statement underscored her desire to combat falsehoods with transparency, a sentiment that resonated with many of her fans and political observers.
Trump, known for his public feuds with high-profile figures, didn’t stay silent either. Reacting to Swift’s endorsement on his Truth Social platform, Trump simply wrote, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” further inflaming the situation.
Clinton wasn’t the only one to speak out against Musk’s remarks. Celebrities like Ari Lennox and Azealia Banks also condemned his behavior. Lennox called Musk “creepy” and questioned why he wasn’t being held accountable for saying something “so horrific and disgusting,” while Banks urged Swift to consider suing the tech billionaire for his inappropriate comments.
As the backlash continues, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about sexism and inappropriate behavior in public discourse, especially from influential figures like Musk. Taylor Swift, through her endorsements and public statements, remains a powerful voice in politics, while the criticisms from Clinton and others shed light on the challenges women face when engaging in political or public life.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
