In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Mike Myers returned to the stage with a satirical portrayal of tech mogul Elon Musk, sparking a swift and pointed reaction from Musk himself.
The sketch, part of the show’s cold open, featured Myers as Musk introducing a fictional Tesla “Model V”—a self-vandalizing vehicle equipped with mechanisms to damage itself, including smashing its own headlights and spraying graffiti. This parody aimed to mock Tesla’s recent challenges, such as incidents of vehicle vandalism and declining sales. Additionally, the skit satirized Musk’s political involvement, referencing his failed attempt to influence a Wisconsin Supreme Court race and his role in the Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency .
Musk, known for his active presence on social media, responded to the sketch on X (formerly Twitter) with a terse critique: “SNL hasn’t been funny in a long time. They are their own parody.” This comment echoes his previous criticisms of the show, despite having hosted it in May 2021 .
The public’s reaction to both the sketch and Musk’s response has been mixed. Some viewers praised Myers’ performance as a comedic highlight, while others criticized the portrayal as mean-spirited or in poor taste. The sketch also reignited discussions about Musk’s own hosting stint on SNL, which was met with similarly polarized reactions .
As SNL continues to use satire to comment on current events and public figures, and as Musk remains a prominent and often controversial figure in both technology and politics, such exchanges between the show and the billionaire are likely to persist.