April 18, 2025 – Just five minutes ago, the internet erupted as Elon Musk, the enigmatic CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp, fired back at critics who’ve pinned Tesla’s recent struggles on his polarizing public persona. The spark? A scathing Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit that mocked Musk as a tone-deaf billionaire whose antics are dragging Tesla’s stock into the abyss. Musk’s response was nothing short of explosive: a vow to take SNL off the air. This isn’t just a celebrity spat—it’s a cultural clash that pits free speech against raw power, comedy against capitalism, and one man’s ego against a 50-year-old institution.

Last weekend, SNL aired a sketch portraying Musk as a bumbling, self-obsessed tycoon, complete with a fake Twitter (now X) feed where he tweeted about Dogecoin while Tesla’s factories metaphorically burned. The skit leaned heavily into recent headlines: Tesla’s stock has dipped 15% in the past quarter, with analysts citing supply chain woes, increased competition, and Musk’s knack for generating controversy. The punchline? A fake analyst declaring, “Tesla’s real problem isn’t China or chips—it’s Elon’s mouth.”

The audience roared, but Musk wasn’t laughing. Taking to X, he posted: “SNL’s lies are a disgrace. They mock me while Tesla builds the future. I’ll buy their network and shut them down. Comedy’s dead anyway.” The post, which garnered 1.2 million likes in under an hour, sent shockwaves through social media. Fans cheered his audacity, while critics decried it as a billionaire’s tantrum. But is Musk serious, and can he actually do it?

To understand Musk’s fury, let’s unpack Tesla’s rocky moment. The company faces real challenges: chip shortages, labor disputes, and fierce competition from legacy automakers like Ford and BYD. Yet, some argue Musk’s behavior—his tweets about politics, memes, and cryptic market comments—has spooked investors. A 2024 Bloomberg report noted that 60% of Tesla shareholders worry Musk’s “personal brand” hurts the company’s image. When Musk hosted SNL in 2021, his awkward performance became a meme fest, cementing his image as a divisive figure.

Still, Musk’s defenders argue he’s a scapegoat. Tesla’s market cap remains over $700 billion, and its Cybertruck and Model Y continue to dominate EV sales. “Elon’s the visionary who got us here,” one X user posted. “SNL’s just chasing clout by punching up.” Musk himself has doubled down, tweeting that Tesla’s fundamentals are “stronger than ever” and blaming “mainstream media” for amplifying negativity.

Musk’s threat to “buy their network” refers to NBC, SNL’s home since 1975. NBCUniversal, owned by Comcast, is valued at over $150 billion. Could Musk, with a net worth of $250 billion, pull it off? Theoretically, yes—he could attempt a hostile takeover or buy a controlling stake. His 2022 acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion proves he’s willing to spend big to control narratives. But Comcast isn’t a struggling startup; it’s a media giant with deep political and corporate ties. A takeover would face regulatory hurdles and public backlash.

Moreover, SNL’s cultural weight makes it a tough target. The show has weathered controversies, from censorship battles to cast scandals, and remains a late-night staple. Shutting it down would alienate millions and fuel accusations of Musk stifling free speech—ironic, given his self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” stance. As one X user quipped, “Elon wants to cancel cancel culture by canceling SNL. Make it make sense.”

This feud isn’t just about Musk or SNL—it’s a snapshot of our polarized era. Comedy has always punched up, but what happens when the target punches back with billions? Musk’s critics see his threat as proof of thin skin and authoritarian tendencies. His supporters view it as a middle finger to elitist media. Both sides agree on one thing: Musk thrives on chaos, turning every slight into a spectacle.

For now, SNL hasn’t responded, but the show’s history suggests it won’t back down. In 1999, when Donald Trump bristled at SNL’s jabs, the show doubled down, mocking him for decades. If Musk escalates, expect next week’s cold open to feature a Musk impersonator—perhaps launching a rocket into his own ego.

Musk’s vow to end SNL is likely hyperbole, but it’s a reminder of his outsized influence. Whether he’s trolling or scheming, the world’s watching. Will he try to buy NBC? Will SNL fire back with sharper satire? Or will this blow over as another Muskian tempest? One thing’s certain: in the battle of billionaires and comedians, no one’s laughing harder than the internet.