A new controversy has rocked the world of celebrity, and this time it involves two titans of the entertainment and business worlds: Elon Musk and Robert De Niro. The conflict erupted when the legendary actor appeared on the talk show “The View” and apparently had no qualms about directly attacking the tech billionaire. During the show, De Niro reportedly insulted Musk, saying, “Get lost, you weird woke kid,” a remark that immediately made headlines and sparked an angry response from Musk. The Tesla CEO, known for his sharp-tongued comments, has now announced that he will not let this attack go unpunished.

The background to this feud is complex. De Niro, an outspoken critic of figures he finds polarizing, used the platform of “The View,” a show often known for its controversial discussions, to target Musk. Sources said the appearance was planned to question Musk’s influence in politics and society, particularly after his recent comments on topics such as free speech and technology. But what began as a critical analysis quickly escalated into a personal attack. De Niro’s words obviously cut Musk deeply, because just hours later the entrepreneur responded to X with a flood of posts calling De Niro a “hypocrite” and “establishment puppet.”

Musk, who considers himself a champion of free speech, did not take the insult lightly. In one of his tweets, he wrote: “Robert De Niro has no idea what he’s talking about. He should focus on his movies and shut up.” But that wasn’t enough – Musk also threatened legal action, hinting that he would wage “war” against the actor, both publicly and in court if necessary. “If he thinks he can insult me on national television and get away with it, he is sorely mistaken,” Musk added. This escalation has taken tensions between the two to new levels.

Public reactions were mixed. De Niro’s fans praised his courage in standing up to such a powerful figure as Musk. One viewer wrote on X: “Finally, someone is telling the truth about this guy. Thanks, Robert!” Others, however, saw De Niro’s performance as a cheap provocation. “He should have behaved more professionally. That was just embarrassing,” commented one user. Musk’s followers, in turn, quickly mobilized to defend their hero and launched a wave of counterattacks against the actor, including calls for boycotts of his films.
“The View” itself hasn’t officially commented on the incident, but insiders report that producers are pleased with the attention it’s received. The show is known for inviting polarizing guests, and De Niro’s appearance seems to fit that mold. Rumor has it that producers even hoped to provoke a reaction from Musk to boost ratings. Whether this was part of a larger plan or simply a spontaneous comment from De Niro remains unclear.
For Musk, this incident is just the latest in a series of clashes with celebrities and media personalities. The entrepreneur, often in the spotlight, has previously clashed with critics such as Alec Baldwin and various journalists. But a direct confrontation with a Hollywood heavyweight like De Niro presents a new challenge. Some observers speculate that Musk could use this dispute to strengthen his own position in the public eye by portraying himself as the victim of a “woke” attack—a narrative that resonates with his followers.
Meanwhile, De Niro remains quiet. The actor, celebrated for his roles in classics such as “The Godfather Part II” and “Taxi Driver,” has not spoken publicly since the appearance. His representatives declined to comment further, reinforcing the impression that he considers the matter closed. But given Musk’s determination, this could be just the beginning of a longer conflict.
The coming weeks will show whether this dispute will actually end up in court or whether it will be played out digitally. One thing is certain: The feud between Elon Musk and Robert De Niro has heated up tempers and will continue to be a topic of conversation for a long time to come. At a time when celebrities are increasingly using their platforms to make political and personal statements, this incident demonstrates how quickly words can become weapons – and how deep the divides in modern society have become.