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Last weekend, Saturday Night Live SNL actress Chloe Fineman accused Elon Musk of making her cry during his hosting stint in 2021. Fineman shared her experience in a now-deleted TikTok video, claiming Musk had dismissed her sketch and reduced her to tears, a revelation that quickly stirred online chatter.
Fineman’s Account of Her Encounter with Musk on SNL
Chloe Fineman, a popular cast member on SNL, revealed in her TikTok video that she felt humiliated by Musk’s criticism when he hosted the show in May 2021. In the video, Fineman alleged she had worked overnight on a sketch she was excited about and eagerly presented it to Musk. However, according to her, Musk was cold and dismissive, giving her a serious look before telling her, “It’s not funny.” She described feeling as if Musk was “firing her from Tesla,” he added that he took the time to read through her script and found out that he did not find anything funny at all.
The video, though deleted, was captured and reposted across social media, leading to speculation about Musk’s behavior behind the scenes. Fineman’s claim also recalled an earlier statement by fellow SNL cast member Bowen Yang, who mentioned an unnamed host had once brought cast members to tears after dismissing their ideas before a table read.
Musk’s Response: “I Was Worried”
Following Fineman’s video, Musk took to X to respond, though he didn’t directly apologize or address her claims in full. Instead, he offered context, saying he had been “worried” that his appearance on SNL was “going to be so unfunny it would make a crackhead sober.” He admitted he felt skeptical until the sketches started generating laughs the Thursday before the show aired. Despite his initial worries, Musk said the episode “worked out in the end.”
Musk’s response sparked both support and criticism online. Some social media users saw his comments as evidence of his dry, blunt humor, while others found his reaction to be dismissive of Fineman’s experience.
Fineman’s Experience Resonates with Other Cast Members
The incident shines a light on a larger trend at SNL, where tensions occasionally rise between cast members and hosts. Bowen Yang, another SNL cast member, alluded to similar host tensions during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.” While Yang did not name Musk directly, he mentioned a particular host who had caused “multiple cast members” to cry after expressing strong disapproval of their ideas. Many viewers connected the dots back to Musk’s 2021 episode.
Fineman’s video also indirectly referenced Musk’s recent complaints about SNL’s portrayal of him in a post-election episode. In the cold open, SNL featured comedian Dana Carvey impersonating Musk as a Trump supporter, complete with a “Make America Great Again” hat and exaggerated movements. Carvey’s Musk character joked about America’s future and his aspirations for the country in a surreal tone, saying, “Americans can be like one of my rockets super cool and super fun, but there’s a slight chance it could blow up, and everyone dies.”
Read more: Elon Musk’s Wealth Hit $300 Billion After Trump’s Election Win
Musk Criticizes SNL’s Post-Election Sketch
Musk didn’t take kindly to the recent caricature. In a series of posts on X, he criticized SNL, accusing the show of losing touch with reality and being “desperate” in its attempts to be politically relevant. He further claimed that SNL had been “dying slowly for years” and called the show’s sketches “out of touch.” He was particularly critical of SNL’s choice to parody him as a supporter of Trump, whom Musk openly endorsed in the 2024 election.
The billionaire tech entrepreneur defended his stance, noting that SNL’s content had become “increasingly woke” and far removed from his sense of humor. “They are so mad that Trump won,” he commented, suggesting that SNL was attempting to prop up Vice President Kamala Harris before the election.
The Larger Impact of Musk’s 2021 Hosting Stint
Musk’s hosting gig in 2021, which generated both curiosity and controversy, was widely critiqued at the time. Critics called the episode one of the “most awkward” in recent years, citing Musk’s lack of comedic timing and “stilted” performances as a detractor. Some reviews even labeled Musk as “one of the worst SNL hosts ever,” noting that his delivery fell flat, despite his attempt to play up his “bizarre” public persona.
Yet, Musk’s involvement in SNL was groundbreaking in other ways, as he became the first non-entertainer billionaire to take on the hosting role. While some applauded his willingness to step outside his comfort zone, others questioned whether his appearance was a publicity stunt that ultimately backfired.
Fineman’s Reflections and Musk’s Controversial Legacy
Although Fineman noted that Musk’s sketch eventually made it to the show and received a good response from audiences, her experience highlights the challenges SNL cast members sometimes face when working with high-profile hosts with no background in comedy. For Musk, whose net worth exceeds $320 billion, his brief foray into comedy may not have been a highlight, but it underscored his enduring impact on popular culture.
For Fineman and the SNL cast, Musk’s hosting stint seems to have left a memorable, if mixed, impression. Whether Musk’s criticisms will further alter the course of SNL remains uncertain, but his recent remarks serve as a reminder that even the world’s wealthiest individuals can struggle to connect on a comedic stage.
