Cardi B fires back at Elon Musk’s “puppet” remark: “I’m the daughter of immigrants”

Musk shared a clip from Cardi’s rally speech, which faced technical glitches, and questioned her authenticity.

As the 2024 U.S. elections approach, a heated exchange unfolded between rapper Cardi B and billionaire Elon Musk. After Musk referred to her as a “puppet” following her speech at a Milwaukee rally for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, Cardi B defended her immigrant roots and working-class background.

The controversy erupted when Musk, owner of the social platform X (formerly Twitter), posted a clip of Cardi B’s Milwaukee rally speech, where she encountered a brief teleprompter glitch. The Grammy-winning artist took a pause until an assistant handed her a phone with her talking points, leading Musk to criticize her authenticity. “Another puppet who can’t even talk without being fed the words,” Musk tweeted, adding, “The Kamala campaign has no authenticity or true empathy.”

Cardi B responded swiftly, dismissing Musk’s accusation and emphasizing her immigrant background and her parents’ struggles. "I’m not a puppet, Elon,” she declared. “I’m the daughter of two immigrant parents who worked hard to provide for me. I’m a product of welfare, Section 8 housing, and poverty." She concluded by addressing Musk directly, “You don’t know anything about the American struggle... PS, fix my algorithm.”
 

Cardi’s public reaction underscores her strong advocacy for marginalized communities and highlights her role in supporting Harris. Born to South African parents of wealth, Musk’s background contrasts sharply with Cardi B’s upbringing, leading many to comment on the stark differences in their perspectives on social issues.

With election day looming, the exchange has intensified discussions around social issues and political influence among celebrities and billionaires.