The entertainment world was rocked on May 4, 2025, when a heated exchange between Hollywood legend Robert De Niro and tech mogul Elon Musk erupted into a public feud, leaving fans and studio audiences in disbelief. The drama unfolded during a live taping of a popular talk show, where Musk, known for his unfiltered commentary, took a sharp jab at De Niro, calling his latest acting performance “utterly stupid.” The remark, delivered with a smirk, was met with an immediate and fiery nine-word response from De Niro that ignited a storm of controversy. The incident, captured on video and shared across X under #DeNiroVsMusk, has since gone viral, drawing millions of views and sparking intense debate.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, appeared as a guest to discuss his latest ventures when the conversation veered into unexpected territory. Referencing De Niro’s recent role in a critically panned action flick, Musk quipped, “I’ve seen better acting from my Tesla bots—utterly stupid.” The studio audience fell silent, unsure how to react, as the camera panned to De Niro, who was also a guest promoting a new project. Without missing a beat, the 81-year-old Oscar winner leaned forward and fired back, “You’re a clown with no soul, Elon.” The nine words, delivered with De Niro’s signature intensity, stunned the host and audience, turning the lighthearted segment into a tense showdown.
The exchange quickly escalated as Musk, unfazed, retorted with a laugh, “At least my cars don’t crash like your career.” De Niro, visibly irritated, stood up and exited the stage, leaving the host scrambling to regain control. The clip, lasting just over a minute, has since exploded online, with fans on X split between admiration for De Niro’s boldness and criticism of Musk’s provocation. “De Niro shut him down—legendary!” wrote one supporter, while another posted, “Musk’s jab was harsh, but De Niro’s exit was dramatic overkill.”
The feud traces back to a history of subtle jabs between the two, with Musk occasionally mocking Hollywood elites on social media and De Niro expressing skepticism about tech billionaires’ influence. This incident, however, marks their first public confrontation. Sources close to De Niro suggest he felt personally insulted, given his decades-long career and reputation, while Musk’s team claims the comment was intended as humor. The talk show’s producers issued a statement apologizing for the “unforeseen escalation,” but the damage was done.
On X, reactions ranged from amusement to outrage. “Elon’s Tesla bots line was savage—De Niro had it coming,” said a Musk fan, while a De Niro loyalist countered, “Nine words of truth, Musk got what he deserved.” The feud has also drawn attention to broader tensions between Hollywood and Silicon Valley, with some seeing it as a clash of cultures. Analysts predict the spat could fuel more public spats, especially as Musk’s influence grows and De Niro remains a vocal figure in entertainment.
For now, the stunned silence of the studio has turned into a global conversation. De Niro has yet to comment further, while Musk posted a cryptic tweet: “Clowns can’t build rockets—next topic.” The incident has left fans eager for the next chapter, with many speculating whether this will escalate into a full-blown rivalry or fizzle out. One thing is certain: the nine words from De Niro have lit a fuse that’s far from extinguished.
