Elon Musk has stirred up controversy by criticising the casting of Black star Lupita Nyong’o in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’. His comment, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity,” has sparked accusations of racism online.
Image Source: X
Elon Musk is stirring the pot again with Christopher Nolan! The SpaceX and Tesla chief has weighed in on the latest movie gossip, and, predictably, it has ruffled some feathers.
On Saturday, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his disapproval over a rumour that Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is set to play Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s epic, ‘The Odyssey’.
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His comment? “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.”
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Chris Nolan has lost his integrity
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2026
The billionaire didn’t just post this on his feed. He responded to a fan’s comment about the casting. And the comment he replied to was… let’s say… eyebrow-raising in its own right.
The fan claimed Helen of Troy was “fair-skinned, blonde, and the face that launched a thousand ships”. They insisted that casting Nyong’o would somehow insult Homer himself despite the fact that the poet has been dead for thousands of years. Oh, and this same fan had a soft spot for Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad. So the thread had a very particular energy.
Musk, ever the provocateur, jumped right into the fray, echoing the fan’s outrage, though it’s unclear whether he was serious or just enjoying the chaos.
Nyong’o has dazzled audiences in ‘Black Panther’, ’12 Years a Slave’, and countless other films. She can embody any role with grace and power.
Elon Musk is not new to making racist claims. His tweets in the past have made several problematic claims against minorities.
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