Elon Musk Called a “Bastard” on The View? The Truth Behind the Viral Rumor

On June 2, 2025, rumors circulated that The View co-host Sunny Hostin had called Elon Musk a “bastard” live on air, causing a stunned reaction from the studio and an immediate apology from fellow host Joy Behar. The reports quickly spread across social media and some media outlets, fueling controversy.

However, a closer look reveals these claims to be false. No credible media sources confirmed Hostin ever used that language on The View, nor is there any video evidence supporting the claim. The rumor appears to be unfounded.Công ty AI của tỷ phú Elon Musk bị đề nghị ngừng hoạt động | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)

Sunny Hostin’s Views on the 2024 Election and Elon Musk

During and after the 2024 presidential election, The View hosts, including Sunny Hostin, openly expressed strong criticism of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Hostin described feeling “profoundly disturbed” by the election results, and the hosts often referred to Trump as “psychotic,” discussing his “levels of depravity” in conversations with guests.

Following Trump’s victory, Hostin deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account, citing her refusal to engage with anything related to Elon Musk—who recently took a government role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Hostin declared she would neither buy a Tesla vehicle nor invest in Tesla stock.

She also criticized Musk’s rebranding of Twitter to “X,” calling it “stupid” and noting that “nobody calls it X.”Sunny Hostin

Clarifying the Record

The persistent rumor that Hostin insulted Musk on live television by calling him a “bastard” has been debunked. Multiple reputable outlets have found no evidence, and no video clips exist to verify this claim.

Moreover, Joy Behar never publicly apologized for any such incident, indicating the story was likely fabricated or exaggerated.

Conclusion

While tensions remain high between some media figures and Elon Musk—especially amid his growing influence in politics and business—fact-checking is crucial. The false report about Hostin’s on-air insult highlights how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age.