Kimmel tells – Jimmy Kimmel hit back at Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO criticized Christopher Nolan’s casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in “The Odyssey.” In a Tuesday monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Kimmel mocked Musk’s outrage, read out Musk’s claim about Academy
Elon Musk’s latest film-related blowup didn’t go unanswered. On Tuesday night, Jimmy Kimmel turned the spotlight to the Tesla CEO’s outrage over casting decisions for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” especially the choice of Lupita Nyong’o to play Helen of Troy.
Kimmel opened his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” monologue by going straight for the complaint. “Elon Musk is now attacking Christopher Nolan. the film director. for the way he cast the movie ‘The Odyssey. ’” Kimmel said. “He’s upset because Christopher Nolan hired Lupita Nyong’o to play a character he believes should be played by a white woman.”.
Then Kimmel played the scene back as Musk framed it on X. Kimmel read out Musk’s claim that Nolan “desecrated the Odyssey so that he would be eligible for an Academy Award.” Kimmel followed it with Musk’s follow-up rant. quoting him directly: “Who specifically is the a–hole who added DEI lies to Academy Awards eligibility instead of it just being about making the best movie?”.
Kimmel cut in with a question of his own before landing on the line that defined his response. “That’s a good question. While we’re at it. who specifically is the a–hole who added DEI lies to Academy Awards eligibility instead of it just being about making the best movie?” Kimmel said. before pivoting: “I mean. stay in your lane.”.
Kimmel also pointed out Musk wasn’t acting in isolation. “As Kimmel went on, he noted that Musk wasn’t alone in his stance, as it had become ‘a thing now,’” as the monologue continued.
Kimmel then brought up Rob Finnerty from Newsmax, describing him as someone who “devoted a whole segment” to the controversy. Kimmel played footage of Finnerty’s broadcast, where Finnerty declared, “Helen of Troy was not Black.”
Kimmel’s reply was swift and pointed. “Well, here’s something that might surprise you, Rob. Helen of Troy was also not real,” Kimmel said. “The Odyssey’ is a mythical poem. There was no Helen of Troy. She was mythical, like Santa Claus or election fraud … It doesn’t matter what color a myth is.”
Kimmel went even deeper into the legend itself, arguing that the character isn’t grounded in reality at all. “And if you really want to get into it, Helen of Troy was half bird. Helen was the daughter of Zeus — and these. Rob. are not photographs. these are drawings — who disguised himself as a swan so he could mate with a human woman who then laid an egg and out hatched Helen of Troy. who. again. was not a real person. This is not history. This is made up. She was pretend. So it makes no difference to anyone but crazy angry people what color she was,” Kimmel continued.
Before the monologue moved on, Kimmel offered one more joke—this time aimed at the casting choices that, in his view, should be drawing more ire. He quipped that people should be “mad at the loser they cast to play Odysseus,” referencing his decades-long “feud” with Matt Damon.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.
Jimmy Kimmel Elon Musk Christopher Nolan Lupita Nyong’o The Odyssey Helen of Troy Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC Matt Damon Rob Finnerty Newsmax X
Elon is always mad about something lol.
I didn’t even know there was a casting fight until now. “Stay in your lane” feels right though. Like, why is Tesla guy talking about Nolan like he’s the movie producer?
So Musk thinks she should’ve been cast as Helen of Troy by a white woman? That’s kinda wild. But also idk why the Academy Awards are even in it, like Nolan personally files paperwork? Seems like a reach.
This is all just noise. I swear Musk only says “DEI” when he wants attention. But Kimmel is also acting like a white-knight comedian, like he didn’t make it about “who specifically” either. Also the title says “Odyssey” but I thought Helen of Troy wasn’t in the Odyssey?? Maybe I’m mixing it up with something else, whatever.