'The View' co-host Joy Behar apologizes to Elon Musk for mistakenly calling him 'pro-apartheid' on-air

Joy Behar made the comment on 'The View' while speaking about Elon Musk's relationship with President Donald Trump
UPDATED FEB 28, 2025
Joy Behar retracted her proclamation that the South African-born Elon Musk was 'pro-apartheid' on Thursday’s episode of 'The View'  (Screengrab/ABC, Getty Images)
Joy Behar retracted her proclamation that the South African-born Elon Musk was 'pro-apartheid' on Thursday’s episode of 'The View' (Screengrab/ABC, Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'The View' co-host Joy Behar apologized to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk after mistakenly calling him 'pro-apartheid' on-air on Thursday, February 27.

Behar made the claim during a rant on the show against the multi-billionaire and his relationship with President Donald Trump, according to Daily Mail.



 

Joy Behar apologizes to Elon Musk for calling him 'pro-apartheid'

Joy Behar said during the show, "The guy was not born in this country, who was born under apartheid in South Africa" as she later called the DOGE chief a "foreigner" and "a foreign agent," per the outlet.

Behar added, "So, he has that mentality going on. He was pro-apartheid, as I understand it."



 

However, Behar soon embarrassingly walked back claims and admitted that she had no evidence of it being true after a commercial break.

She said, "Now I'm getting some flack because I said that Musk was pro-apartheid. I don't really know for sure if he was."

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk delivers remarks as he join U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is to sign an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE)
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk delivers remarks as he joins President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Behar added, "He grew up at that time when apartheid was in full bloom, before the great Nelson Mandela fixed that. He was around at that time, but maybe he was, maybe he wasn't - he might have been a young guy, too. So, don't be suing me, okay Elon?"

The audience in the studio delivered a chuckle before she attacked the administration again. She said, "They're allowed to say any lie they want but we have to be really strict. That's why this show's important."

Notably, Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, during the peak of the racial segregationist policy known as Apartheid. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2002, according to the New York Post.

Internet slams Joy Behar as she apologizes to Elon Musk for calling him 'pro-apartheid'

Several internet users slammed Joy Behar as she apologized to Elon Musk after mistakenly calling him 'pro-apartheid' during a recent episode of 'The View'.

A user wrote on X, "If a person does NOT know something for certain or not, they should not go on blabbering about it & associate someone by name-then request that person doesn’t sue them," while one added, "This illustrates a child testing limits. I said a terrible lie, ignore the potential of my lie, and act cute. Musk should sue."



 



 

A person also stated, "Sue her anyway and keep her tied up in court so she goes through all of her money," whereas one mentioned, "Wow she looks and sounds awfully nervous. So nice to see their righteous indignation getting smacked down."



 



 

A user also wrote, "Isn't she supposed to be a professional "talent"? Why does she keep saying stupid and unfounded bulls*** in front of a camera for what used to be a large audience?" while one commented, "She thinks that the View is important. How delusional can she be. The View is the laughing stock of TV."



 



 

A person added, "I wish someone would not just ask them to apologize for their lies and actually just sue the s*** out of them! How many times is this now?"



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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