Elon Musk’s Controversial Oscars remark at 96th Academy Awards creates a huge social media response
The big, fancy event of the 96th Academy Awards on March 11, 2024, got lots of attention because of what Elon Musk, the guy in charge of Tesla and SpaceX, said. The glamour and the hype that the Oscars generate have been sort of overshadowed (to some extent) by remarks from Tesla and SpaceX magnate Elon Musk. As Hollywood’s elite gathered to honor cinematic achievements, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disdain for the ceremony, likening winning an Oscar to triumphing in what he termed “the woke contest.”
Winning an Oscar now just means you won the woke contest
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2024
“Winning an Oscar now just means you won the woke contest,” Elon Musk declared in a post that garnered significant attention, accumulating 27 million views and over two lakh likes. He continued, saying, “When an award is diluted, everyone knows, including those who received it, and it no longer commands respect.” This was just one more criticism.
Issues with racism and inequality are particularly contentious when addressing “wokeness,” a term that is frequently connected to social consciousness. In earlier statements, Musk chastised what he perceived as the “wokeness” movement’s suppression of free speech, even implying that it aims to prohibit humor.
Elon Musk eventually modified his position in response to the criticism, admitting that his first remarks may not have been entirely accurate. “Guess I was wrong,” he conceded in response to a post highlighting white winners at the Oscars.
Critics were quick to point out Musk’s comparison of the Oscars to a “woke contest” amid Oppenheimer’s dominant victory, securing seven out of its 13 nominations. Christopher Nolan’s film, centered on physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, whose role in the development of the atomic bomb is depicted, seemingly contradicts the notion of “wokeness” with its predominantly white cast and historical subject matter.
American History X is an all-time classic that wouldn’t even earn a nomination if it were made today.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) March 11, 2024
Let us not turn X into a conspiracy theory social network.
— Culture Explorer (@CultureExploreX) March 10, 2024
Winning an Oscar isn't about being 'woke'; it's about being the best.
As the industry's standards evolve, so do the winners – those who push boundaries, provoke thought, and excel in their craft.
You’re just upset you’ll never win one
— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙♂️🌈 🔜 Pax East (@David_Leavitt) March 10, 2024
However, some people agreed with Musk’s criticism, while others disagreed, highlighting the teamwork that goes into making movies and the appreciation of different viewpoints.
The uproar over Elon Musk’s remarks is reminiscent of larger discussions around the place of social consciousness in entertainment and the alleged politicization of award shows. Former US President Donald Trump also weighed in, criticizing the Oscars as “disjointed, boring, and very unfair” on his conservative social platform, Truth Social.
The Oscar controversy which unfortunately happens often, shows how politics, art, and making society better are all connected. It’s important because the entertainment industry is working to include everyone and show different types of people.
