Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for running companies like Tesla and SpaceX, is making waves again—this time, with a string of controversial remarks aimed at the United Kingdom. Since Donald Trump’s re-election in November 2024, Musk has become increasingly vocal in global politics, often targeting left-leaning governments and leaders.
His latest target? UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the country’s judiciary. Musk’s commentary began with a jab at a UK judicial decision, tweeting, “This clown looks like he bought that wig from the Party City liquidation sale.” Not stopping there, he added, “Sorry, that was in poor taste. I’d like to apologize for insulting Party City. They would never sell such a wig.”
From sarcasm to grotesque humor
Musk’s comments took a bizarre turn when he involved his AI chatbot, GrokAI, in the conversation. Musk asked the bot to explain what a “merkin” is, referring to a historical wig once used as a pubic covering. He then quipped about the judge, “He’s wearing a merkin on his head! What is a merkin, you might ask?”
In a prompt to GrokAI, Musk upped the ante, asking it to explain the term in the “most vulgar funny way possible.” The chatbot’s response was reportedly so explicit that it cannot be reproduced here. A screenshot of the exchange, however, has been included in the article.
No moderation in sight
Given Musk’s ownership of X (formerly Twitter) and his hands-on approach to platform policies, it’s unlikely his actions will face moderation or consequences. Critics have already begun questioning Musk’s use of the platform to blur the lines between humor and inappropriate conduct.
Critics call out Musk
This isn’t the first time Musk has taken aim at Starmer. Previously, he referred to the Labour Party leader as “double-tier Keir,” accusing him of hypocrisy in law enforcement. However, this latest episode, featuring off-color humor and an AI-powered escalation, has drawn sharper criticism.
Political analysts argue that Musk’s increasing interference in global politics is a troubling trend, particularly as he uses his vast social media reach to amplify controversial rhetoric.
While Musk’s fans may defend his remarks as humor, many view his antics as an abuse of influence, questioning whether a platform owned and controlled by the world’s richest man can ever truly ensure accountability.
For now, Musk seems unfazed, leaving his critics—and the UK government—to navigate the fallout.
