In a jaw-dropping twist, Elon Musk, the billionaire visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, has unleashed a $70 million defamation lawsuit against Joy Behar and The View, filed in a California court on March 20, 2025. The legal bombshell, announced on March 24, centers on Behar’s fiery on-air claim that Musk was “pro-apartheid” and an “enemy of the United States,” tied to his South African roots during a discussion about his ties to President Donald Trump. Musk’s attorneys call these statements “false and malicious,” arguing they’ve scorched his reputation and threatened his empire. But what lit this fuse, and could it reshape how media giants spar with titans like Musk?
The drama kicked off on a recent The View episode when Behar, 82, didn’t hold back. “He was born under apartheid in South Africa, so he has that mentality—he was pro-apartheid, as I understand it,” she said, painting Musk as a relic of a racist past. Hours later, she backpedaled, admitting, “I don’t really know for sure if he was,” and quipping, “Don’t be suing me, okay, Elon?” Too late—her words had already sparked a firestorm. Musk’s legal team pounced, claiming Behar’s broad reach on ABC’s platform turned her “reckless” remarks into a reputational wrecking ball, justifying the hefty $70 million demand.
Musk, 53, born in Pretoria in 1971 during apartheid, left South Africa at 17 and built his legacy in the U.S. His camp insists there’s zero evidence he ever backed apartheid—his mother, Maye, even noted on X that public dissent there meant jail time, not endorsement. Yet Behar’s jab, amplified by The View’s millions of viewers, struck a nerve. “They are lying about me,” Musk reportedly fumed, per the filing, channeling his frustration into a legal crusade that’s got X buzzing. Supporters cheer him on—“Time to hold the media accountable!” one post roared—while skeptics see a free-speech showdown brewing.
For Behar and The View, this is uncharted territory. The veteran comedian’s sharp wit has stirred trouble before, but facing Musk’s deep pockets and fierce resolve is a different beast. ABC’s silence suggests a defense is brewing—perhaps leaning on Behar’s retraction or arguing her words were opinion, not fact. Legal minds say it’s a tightrope: defamation hinges on proving malice and falsehood, and this case could set a precedent for how far TV hosts can push the envelope.
What’s next? As court dates loom, this clash promises fireworks. Will Musk’s $70 million gambit force media to rethink their rhetoric, or will Behar’s wit dodge another bullet? One thing’s clear: this isn’t just about money—it’s a battle for narrative control, and the world’s watching.
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