Elon Musk has renewed his public criticism of Christopher Nolan’s casting choices for the director’s upcoming epic movie, The Odyssey, taking a jab specifically at Lupita Nyong’o’s, according to TMZ.
Nolan confirmed toTime earlier this year that Nyong’o will portray not only Helen, described in the press as “the most beautiful woman in the world”, but also Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra.
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh would quickly seize the moment and air his sentiments on the casting, arguing that “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world,’” and accusing Nolan of fearing accusations of racism if he had cast a white actress.
Musk publicly agreed with Walsh comments, responding simply, “True.”
Musk went further in a second post responding to a certain user who questioned why filmmakers sometimes “race swap white characters.” Musk suggested the move could be motivated by awards consideration, writing, “He wants the awards.”
Musk was seemingly insinuating that Nolan was casting Nyong’o to satisfy perceived Academy inclusion expectations tied to Best Picture eligibility, a quality that frames casting as strategic rather than artistic.
The 54-year old Billionaire’s criticism has since brought him criticism online as well, @Bob Dobbs, commented, “Elon is rich enough to make his own movie but he’s also extremely untalented, so all he can do is cry online”, @Jeaux Jeaux, posted, “Dude is the richest person in the world, and this is what he’s whining about? Go end world hunger or some other global crisis”
The backlash has since spilled into daytime television when Whoopi Goldberg and her co-hosts on The View even addressed the controversy that has since surrounded the anticipated Movie.
This is not the first time Musk has publicly displayed his displeasure towards the actress.
When Nyong’o’s casting as Helen was only circulating as rumor early this year, he called it an “insult” to Homer, referencing classical descriptions of Helen as fair-skinned and blonde, the “face that launched a thousand ships,” whose beauty allegedly sparked the Trojan War.
Unfortunately, this is also not the first incident where Lupita has experienced racism and colorism. In 2017 former NBA star Gilbert Arenas received public backlash after making derogatory comments about Nyong’o’s skin complexion.
“Everybody saying her (skin) looks beautiful. how about her face tho?? Lights off,” he wrote. Arenas would later on issue a public apology to Lupita.
Despite the constant criticism, the Kenyan born Mexican actress’ acting background has proved remarkable. The 43-year old graduated from Yale School of Drama, and burst onto the global scene in Steve McQueen’s 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress.
Since then, she has built a distinctive and stellar career, including a dual role in Jordan Peele’s Us, appearances as Nakia across the Black Panther and Avengers films, and a lead role in A Quiet Place: Day One, where she portrayed a terminally ill woman surviving an alien invasion. She is not new to taking on unique characters in movies.
The Odyssey, is scheduled to premiere July 17, 2026, adapting Homer’s epic tale of Odysseus and his catastrophic journey home after the Trojan War.
Nolan’s casts include Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, and Elliot Page, among others.
Known for his cerebral, often nonlinear, storytelling, the acclaimed Academy Award winner writer/director/producer Sir Christopher Nolan has more than 25 years of film making experience.
He is famous for making fire films like The Dark Knight, Oppenheimer, Inception, Memento and Dark Knight.