In a shocking turn of events, Filipino tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala has lost over 100,000 followers overnight after a controversial comment from billionaire Elon Musk triggered an online campaign calling for her to be blocked and boycotted.
The tech mogul, who has become increasingly outspoken on X (formerly Twitter), posted a comment on Tuesday evening that many have condemned as racist and inflammatory. In response to a tennis highlights video featuring Eala, Musk wrote, “The yellow-skinned one has surfaced; tennis needs more deserving players.”
The post immediately went viral, drawing harsh criticism from sports fans, anti-racism advocates, and public figures across the globe. Despite being taken down within a few hours, the damage was already done. The phrase “yellow-skinned” was widely condemned as a racial slur directed at Eala’s Asian heritage, and Musk’s insinuation that she is “undeserving” of her success in tennis has further fueled outrage.
Within 24 hours of the post, Alexandra Eala’s X account showed a steep drop of more than 100,000 followers, many of them citing the billionaire’s words and encouraging others to “unfollow” her, suggesting she had been artificially promoted or that she somehow symbolized political correctness gone too far.
Eala, just 19 years old, has steadily climbed the ranks in women’s tennis and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young athletes in the sport. A Grand Slam junior champion and the first Filipino to win a WTA title, Eala has been celebrated not only for her talent but also for her grace under pressure and her role in inspiring a new generation of Asian athletes.
She broke her silence Wednesday morning with a composed and heartfelt message on Instagram:
“I’m proud of who I am and where I come from. I’ve always let my game speak for itself, and I will continue to do so. Hate will not define me — but love and resilience will.”
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) also released an official statement supporting Eala:
“Alexandra Eala is an extraordinary athlete and person. The WTA condemns any form of racism or discrimination, and we stand firmly with Alexandra.”
Several top tennis players, including Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Ons Jabeur, publicly expressed solidarity with Eala, reposting her message and denouncing Musk’s words.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has yet to issue a formal apology. A follow-up post simply read, “Free speech isn’t always comfortable,” further intensifying backlash from both within and outside the sports world. The hashtag #BlockMuskNotEala began trending globally as users turned their outrage toward the billionaire instead.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Stop AAPI Hate have also weighed in, calling Musk’s comments a clear example of casual racism being normalized by public figures.
“This is not about free speech,” said Amira Tan, a spokesperson for Asian Voices United. “This is about the abuse of influence to perpetuate outdated and harmful stereotypes. Alexandra Eala has every right to be celebrated for her achievements.”
The Philippine Sports Commission also announced it would be releasing a formal protest letter to X, demanding accountability and better content moderation to prevent racially charged attacks against Asian athletes.
As of Thursday morning, Eala’s follower count has begun to stabilize, and her supporters are calling for a broader conversation about race, merit, and the responsibility of influencers and tech leaders in shaping public discourse.
