Elon Musk has sparked another social media feud after firing back at celebrity chef José Andrés with a blunt three-word response. The exchange came days after the SpaceX CEO faced criticism over comments he made following a recent interview with The Economist.
Elon Musk slams Chef José Andrés after his ‘tyrant’ remark
The controversy began after Musk sat down with The Economist Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes. During the interview, Beddoes questioned his apparent support for people often described as being on the far right.
Musk quickly rejected that characterization. “No, I support the normal people. What you call the far right, falsely,” he said during the conversation.
After the interview aired, Musk continued discussing it on X. Responding to a post from Reform UK member Rael Braverman, he called Beddoes “a traitor to the West,” drawing criticism from several users.
Among those who weighed in was chef José Andrés. The restaurateur, whose nonprofit World Central Kitchen provides meals during humanitarian crises, urged Musk to take a calmer approach before posting online.
“Drink a glass of water before you tweet,” Andrés wrote. He also defended Beddoes, describing her as “a great journalist” who asked fair questions instead of acting like “an enemy to humanity.”
The chef went even further, criticizing Musk’s tone. “You sound and act like a tyrant… change!” he added.
Musk did not let the criticism go unanswered. Instead, he replied with a short three-word message that quickly spread across social media.
“You’re an a**hole” Musk wrote.
The exchange immediately attracted thousands of reactions online. Many users sided with Andrés and praised his response, while others defended Musk and argued he had every right to push back against criticism.
The latest clash adds to a growing list of online disputes involving the billionaire. Musk frequently uses X to respond directly to critics, politicians, journalists and public figures, often turning disagreements into viral moments.
Neither Musk nor Andrés expanded on the exchange after their initial posts. However, the brief back-and-forth once again showed how quickly conversations on social media can escalate between high-profile figures.
Musk’s three-word reply may have ended his side of the discussion, but it also fueled another wave of debate across X, where supporters and critics continued arguing over the exchange long after the posts went live.
Originally reported by Samridhi Goel on Mandatory.com.