Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), has once again found himself at the centre of a media storm.

In his latest social media outburst, Musk attacked the popular talk show The View , calling it “a gathering place for ignorant women” and urging his followers to boycott the show.

Her comments sparked an immediate backlash, with the show’s cast members responding forcefully, turning the controversy into a full-scale media event.

Elon Musk’s provocative comment

The controversy began when Musk, known for his outspoken Twitter posts, reacted to a viral segment on The View in which the panel criticized his leadership at X. Musk didn’t hold back, posting on his platform: “Why does anyone watch The View ? It’s just a hangout for ignorant women. It’s time for a boycott.”

His post quickly went viral, generating both support and rejection among social media users. While his most loyal followers backed the action, critics accused him of misogyny and a derogatory comment.

The response from the cast of The View

It wasn’t long before The View hosts responded. In the following live broadcast, the entire panel, which included Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sara Haines, devoted a segment to Musk’s comments.

Whoopi Goldberg, known for her direct, unfiltered language, addressed Musk: “Elon, honey, you have a lot of money, but you don’t have a lot of class. If you don’t like what we say, don’t watch it. But don’t try to silence us because we called you out.”

Joy Behar, another of the more vocal presenters, added: “This is the guy who thinks he’s the smartest person in the world, but he can’t handle women questioning his behavior. How ridiculous.”

Sunny Hostin took a more analytical approach, pointing to what she described as a pattern of Musk’s “inability to accept criticism.” “Time and time again we have seen Elon Musk react negatively when women, especially strong, opinionated women, challenge him. This is nothing new.”

Public reactions: divided and intense

Unsurprisingly, Musk’s comments and The View ’s response sparked a firestorm online. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags like #BoycottTheView and #IStandWithTheView, reflecting the polarization of the debate.

Support for Musk

Musk’s supporters and several high-profile figures defended his stance, arguing that The View has a history of unfairly attacking conservative voices and successful entrepreneurs. Celebrity podcaster Joe Rogan weighed in on his show, suggesting that The View had lost credibility: “It’s not a serious talk show anymore; it’s just a scandal machine. Musk is right to call them out.”

Others agreed that Musk should be able to express his opinions in the same way as the show’s hosts.

Rejection of Musk

However, many saw Musk’s comments as an attack on women and criticized him for using gendered language to insult female presenters. Feminist groups and several public figures condemned the billionaire’s remarks.

Hillary Clinton took to social media, writing: “Dismissing women’s voices as ‘ignorant’ when they challenge power is an old trick. It won’t work.”

Actress and activist Alyssa Milano also took issue: “Elon Musk’s comments aren’t just about The View . They’re part of a broader trend of powerful men belittling women who speak out.”

Advertising and television networks react

As the controversy dominated headlines, media outlets and commercial companies began to take notice. ABC, the network behind The View , issued a statement supporting its hosts and defending the show’s right to discuss public figures.

“ The View has been a platform for dynamic discussions for more than two decades. We support our hosts and their right to express their opinions,” the network said.

Meanwhile, some advertisers have reported considering re-evaluating their partnerships with X, particularly given concerns about content moderation on Musk’s platform.

Musk responds again

Unsurprisingly, Musk didn’t back down and posted another message that further fueled the fire. “They can give criticism, but they can’t take it. Typical.”

His response deepened the divide, with some praising his defiance and others accusing him of diverting attention from genuine criticism.

What’s next?

This controversy isn’t going away anytime soon. The View remains one of the most-watched daytime shows, and Musk remains one of the most influential (and polarizing) figures in business and technology.

Some analysts speculate that this dispute could even boost The View ‘s viewership , as controversies typically generate higher levels of engagement.

Others are wondering whether Musk’s comments will have any impact on the show’s advertisers or network executives.

Regardless of public opinion, it’s clear that this clash underscores a growing cultural divide between powerful figures like Musk and mainstream media voices like The View — a battle that is far from over.

In short, Elon Musk’s call for a boycott of The View and his disparaging comments towards the hosts have sparked an intense debate about the media, freedom of expression and gender criticism. While some applaud his bravery, others see it as another example of his combative and controversial approach to public discourse.