Olivia Wilde on Elon Musk: 'Before He Turned Into This Creature'
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- Olivia Wilde recalled meeting Elon Musk 'many, many years ago' when SpaceX established its Los Angeles headquarters, describing him at the time as seemingly intelligent and willing to donate to her humanitarian work in Haiti
- Elon Musk was referenced by Wilde as having 'turned into this creature,' a figure she now deeply resents due to his political trajectory and alignment with ideologies she views as misogynistic
- Don’t Worry Darling drew inspiration from conservative figures like Jordan Peterson, whom Wilde associated with weaponized misogyny that contributed to Donald Trump’s political rise
- Wilde connected Musk’s obsession with an 'underpopulation crisis' to a broader mindset of men who believe they are 'more powerful than nature,' a theme central to her film’s critique of patriarchal control
- The Louis Theroux Podcast hosted Wilde’s candid discussion on power, intimacy, and ideology, where she also promoted her new film The Invite, exploring marital desire and emotional entitlement
Why it matters: Wilde’s personal account shifts Musk from tech icon to ideological symbol, linking his evolution to cultural anxieties about masculinity and power. Her framing gives artistic weight to critiques of figures once seen as progressive innovators but now associated with regressive politics, resonating with audiences attuned to gender dynamics in media and tech.
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