Musk Attacks Nolan's 'Odyssey' Casting as DEI Ploy
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- Elon Musk escalated his criticism of Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" on X, writing, "Chris Nolan desecrated the Odyssey so that he would be eligible for an Academy Award," and asking, "Who specifically is the asshole who added DEI lies to Academy Awards eligibility."
- Musk amplified a tweet from conservative commentator Matt Walsh that mocked Lupita Nyong'o's casting as Helen of Troy, replying "True" after Walsh called Nolan a "coward."
- Musk also objected to the casting of Elliot Page, retweeting posts mocking the actor's masculinity.
- Variety notes Musk's argument overlooks that Nolan's Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer" had a white cast and still qualified for Best Picture, undermining the claim that diverse casting is required for eligibility.
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Representation and Inclusion Standards in 2020 and put them into practice in 2024, requiring Best Picture contenders to meet two of four standards covering casting, subject matter, leadership, crew, and audience development.
- Nolan's "The Odyssey" is set to open in theaters on July 17.
Why it matters: Musk's campaign targets a specific Academy policy in force since 2024, but Nolan's all-white "Oppenheimer" won Best Picture under those same rules—exposing the factual gap in Musk's argument and turning a culture-war flashpoint into a case study in how social-media criticism can overshoot its own evidence base.
