On May 21, 2026, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel criticized Elon Musk for a post on X (formerly Twitter) that appeared to mock actress Lupita Nyong'o. Kimmel, on his show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', called the post 'hateful' and 'unnecessary,' noting that Nyong'o has been a vocal advocate for diversity and representation in Hollywood.
The controversy began when Musk shared a meme comparing Nyong'o to a character from the animated series 'The Simpsons,' which many interpreted as a dig at her facial features. Nyong'o has not publicly responded to the post as of May 22, 2026.
Kimmel's segment included a montage of Musk's past controversial tweets, highlighting a pattern of what Kimmel described as 'bullying.' The host urged Musk to focus on his companies rather than targeting individuals.
Representatives for Musk and Nyong'o did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident has sparked debate online about the responsibilities of public figures on social media.
