In a bizarre turn of events, Sunny Hostin, co-host of ABC’s The View, has found herself facing the wrath of tech mogul Elon Musk after a recent on-air rant against his company SpaceX.
Musk, known for his fiery social media presence, took to Twitter to condemn Hostin’s comments and even hinted at legal action.
“It was clearly defamation,” Musk tweeted in response to Hostin’s criticism of SpaceX’s recent successful mission to launch astronauts into space. “These baseless attacks on my company and our achievements will not be tolerated.”
Hostin, who had accused SpaceX of “putting profits over safety” during the mission, seemed taken aback by Musk’s response.
“I was simply expressing my opinion on a matter of public safety,” she said in a statement. “I stand by my comments and believe that companies like SpaceX have a responsibility to prioritize safety over profit.”
But Musk wasn’t having it. He fired back with a series of tweets, accusing Hostin of spreading misinformation and suggesting that he would take legal action against her and The View.
“Opinions are one thing, but spreading falsehoods and damaging a company’s reputation is another,” Musk wrote. “I won’t stand for it.”
The feud has sent shockwaves through the media and tech industries, with some speculating that it could lead to a full-blown legal battle. Legal experts, however, are divided on whether Musk has a strong case for defamation.
“It’s always difficult to prove defamation, especially when it comes to public figures and opinions,” said one expert. “But Elon Musk is a very powerful figure, and he has a lot of resources at his disposal. It’s possible that he could make a case.”
For Hostin, the situation is far from ideal. “I never expected this to blow up like it has,” she said. “But I stand by my comments, and I won’t be intimidated by threats or legal action.”
Only time will tell how the Hostin-Musk feud will play out, but one thing is for sure: it’s a clash of two strong personalities, and neither seems willing to back down.
Those of the View are known for putting foot in mouth. I say go get them!