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Public Perception of Elon Musk: Why It Turned Negative

Public perception of Elon Musk

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Public Perception of Elon Musk: Why It Turned Negative

Elon Musk's public perception has largely shifted from a revered innovator to a controversial figure, and users point to specific events and behaviors that eroded his earlier positive image. The 2018 Thailand cave rescue incident, where he attacked a rescuer after his offer to help was declined, is cited most often as the turning point. His purchase and management of Twitter then accelerated the decline.

Many users once saw him as a dorky nerd who built cool rockets, electric cars, and flamethrowers. That goodwill faded as he became more vocal on various topics and his behavior read to many as childish and narcissistic. Learning about his wealthy upbringing, including his family's ownership of an emerald mine, also weakened belief in the self-made story.

Some users go further and label him a con artist, arguing that more and more of his promised projects have underdelivered or straight up failed. His handling of Twitter reinforced that view, with one user describing the whole saga as a train wreck in slow motion that showed him riding on other people's efforts while raking in the success.

Turning points

  1. Thailand cave rescue attack He called rescuers pedophiles after they declined his help in 2018, the most cited turning point
  2. Twitter acquisition Buying the platform and his management of it were called a train wreck and a clown show
  3. Privileged upbringing His family's emerald mine undercut the self-made image for many users
  4. Underdelivered projects Repeated failures and broken promises led some to label him a con artist
  5. Fading cool nerd persona Early fans liked the dorky builder of rockets, electric cars, and flamethrowers
Public Perception of Elon Musk: Why It Turned Negative — infographic

The "Pedo Guy" Incident

Thailand cave rescue comments damaged his image. Many Users cite the 2018 incident where Musk publicly attacked a rescuer involved in the Thailand cave rescue as a turning point, revealing a "weirdo narcissistic egomaniac" side. "I think the biggest moment for most people was the cave incident in Thailand a few years back where he offered to help, they politely refused, and he went all ape-shit, calling them pedophiles, etc."
The incident exposed his "childish asshole" tendencies. Some Users believe this event was one of the first times his true character was revealed, contrasting sharply with his earlier "cool nerd" persona. "One of the first clear 'wait the fuck up' moments... when a professional cave diver said no, that's dumb af, Elon called him a pedo."

Twitter Acquisition and Management

Twitter saga was a "train wreck". The purchase of Twitter and his subsequent management decisions are frequently mentioned as accelerating the decline in public opinion. "The whole twitter saga was a train wreck in slow motion."
Showed a "clown show" of leadership. Users argue that his handling of Twitter exposed him as someone "mostly riding on other people's efforts" and unable to manage a popular platform without turning it into a "shitshow." "When him buying Twitter and turning it into his own clown show showed he was mostly riding on other people's efforts and raking in the success."

Perception of Intelligence and Privilege

Initial admiration for innovation faded with increased exposure. Many Users initially viewed Musk as a "cool dude" focused on futuristic tech like rockets and electric cars but changed their minds as he became more vocal on various topics. "People forgot that Elon wasn’t always the way he is now. There was a time where he at least came across as a dorky nerd who built cool rockets and electric cars and flamethrowers."
Realization of his privileged background. Discussion around his wealthy upbringing, including his father's emerald mine, contributed to skepticism about his "self-made" narrative. "His family owned an emerald mine. So they were already incredibly rich."
"Con artist" label emerged as promises underdelivered. As more of his projects allegedly underdelivered or failed, some Users began to perceive him as a "con-artist" rather than a true innovator. "Only now, that more and more of his promised projects keep underdelivering or straight up failing, people seem to wake up to him just being a con-artist."

Did these shifts in public perception primarily stem from his public statements and actions rather than his business endeavors?

Bottom line

Elon Musk's public perception has largely shifted from a revered innovator to a controversial figure, with many Users pointing to specific events and behaviors that eroded his initial positive image.

Community answers 30

What others in the community said:

He opened his mouth.

But no, for real back in the day, at least as far as I can remember, he didn't really express his opinions on controversial topics publicly, but then after getting famous enough to be "too big to fail" he just started sharing his hot takes making people realize "wow, this dude is kind of a childish asshole",

My personal theory is that he either fired his old PR person or bought his own hype, probably both

83% upvoted

Elon musk fans say he struggled while Elon haters say he grew up rich. What is the non biased fact

People got to know more about him.

91% upvoted

At this point it’s clear to us all that Musk has basically lost any mainstream supporters other than maybe the most fringe right-wingers. So when do you think the tide finally turned for him?

  1. Pedophile comment
  2. Purchase of Twitter
  3. Cybertruck launch disaster
  4. Firing entire supercharger team

The best way I've seen it summarised is the follows
"He was talking about cars, and I knew nothing about cars, so I assumed he was smart."
"Then he was talking about rockets, and I knew nothing about rockets, so I assumed he was smart."
"Now he's talking about X (Pick one between programming, human rights, war, etc), and I know a decent bit about that, and I realise he's talking shit, so I probably shouldn't trust his cars and rockets either."

I think the biggest moment for most people was the cave incident in Thailand a few years back where he offered to help, they politely refused, and he went all ape-shit, calling them pedophiles, etc.

The whole twitter saga was a train wreck in slow motion.

88% upvoted

It may just be me, but I'm pretty sure there was a time where I feel most people loved and talked well of Elon Musk and thought he was a funny quirky guy but now is widely disliked or hated.I'll admit I used to like him but I am not a fan now.

What is the point in which things went downhill for him?

66% upvoted

I saw a post about I want to hear gifted people's opinion on Trump and Elon often feels like an enigma to me. On some days I have a clear understanding of what he is doing on other days I am very very puzzled. Would like to hear what gifted people have to say about what he is doing and what he plans to do especially given the context he has the full backing (and near-deification) of the Trump Administration.

I used to think Elon sounded like a pretty cool dude because I like rockets and solar panels, never had a reason to think anything beyond that, until the cave diver thing happened. That's what broke the spell for me, and everything he's done since then has been all an embarrassment.

Do people actually have a hard time understanding how Elon got the reputation he does, or are they playing stupid?

When he first came out he presented himself as a do-gooder rich guy willing to spend his money on futuristic green energy tech. People where exited about it.

Fast forward a few years he starts acting weird and douchy. Like calling the cave rescue experts pedos for not using his stupid impossible submarine idea. People start to side eye him. Then he starts dancing around Nazi talking points while his projects are bombing all around him. People realize he's a BS scammer. He then does a complete heel turn. Elon goes full bad guy robbing the government while the dumbest most corrupt administration is at the helm.

Now dim-wits across the land like to say; "u LiKe HiM bEfOrE bUt NoT nOw" as if there is some mindless hypocritical manipulation going on rather than them being too stupid to follow the story arc.

That's also the most 2015 era person you could have chosen lmfao

54% upvoted

There are many posts on Users saying, "Elon Musk became crazy."

I don't know because I only recently learned about him, but if there are posts like this, does that mean Elon Musk was once a respected person?

The day he deliberately turned off Starlink right in the middle of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

There are lots of US-Canada dual citizens, it's honestly the least interesting part about him.

I believe he is also sewth effriken.

Canada deserves better than that Nazi, apartheid loving, twat.

No one sees him has Canadians and I’m sure he doesn’t either.

44% upvoted

I’m just trying to figure this one out.

Incident
- Thailand cave rescue comments damaged his image. Many Users cite the 2018 incident where Musk publicly attacked a rescuer involved in the Thailand cave rescue as a turning point, revealing a
tendencies. Some Users believe this event was one of the first times his true character was revealed, contrasting sharply with his earlier
One of the first clear 'wait the fuck up' moments... when a professional cave diver said no, that's dumb af, Elon called him a pedo.
. The purchase of Twitter and his subsequent management decisions are frequently mentioned as accelerating the decline in public opinion.
of leadership. Users argue that his handling of Twitter exposed him as someone
and unable to manage a popular platform without turning it into a
When him buying Twitter and turning it into his own clown show showed he was mostly riding on other people's efforts and raking in the success.
focused on futuristic tech like rockets and electric cars but changed their minds as he became more vocal on various topics.
- Realization of his privileged background. Discussion around his wealthy upbringing, including his father's emerald mine, contributed to skepticism about his
His family owned an emerald mine. So they were already incredibly rich.
label emerged as promises underdelivered. As more of his projects allegedly underdelivered or failed, some Users began to perceive him as a
rather than a true innovator.

Related questions

Why did public perception of elon musk change?
Users most often cite the 2018 Thailand cave rescue incident, where Musk attacked a rescuer as a pedophile after his help was politely declined, as the turning point. The Twitter purchase and its aftermath accelerated the shift.
What happened with elon musk and the thailand cave rescue?
After rescuers refused his offer to help, he went on a public attack and called them pedophiles. Many users saw this as the first clear look at his true character, a sharp contrast with his earlier cool nerd persona.
How did buying twitter affect musk's reputation?
Users describe the acquisition and his management of the platform as a train wreck in slow motion and a clown show. It convinced many that he was riding on other people's efforts rather than managing well himself.
Did people always have a negative view of elon musk?
No. Many users remember a time when he came across as a dorky nerd who built rockets, electric cars, and flamethrowers, and only changed their minds as he became more vocal and his behavior worsened.
Was elon musk seen as self-made?
Users raise doubts, pointing to his wealthy upbringing and his family's ownership of an emerald mine as proof they were already incredibly rich. That background fed skepticism about the self-made narrative.
Why do some people call elon musk a con artist?
As more of his promised projects underdelivered or outright failed, some users concluded he oversells his abilities and takes credit for others' work. The con artist label emerged from that pattern of broken promises.

People also asked

#elon musk#elon musk twitter acquisition#why people dislike elon musk

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