Olivia Wilde says she ‘deeply resents’ Elon Musk years after meeting him

Olivia Wilde says she now "deeply resents" Elon Musk while discussing misogyny, incel culture and their past meeting

Olivia Wilde has spoken candidly about her changing views on Elon Musk, saying she now "deeply resents" the billionaire entrepreneur years after first meeting him during a visit to SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Wilde reflected on meeting Musk when SpaceX had recently established its headquarters. According to Variety, the filmmaker said she visited the facility because of her interest in space exploration and rockets while Musk was considering supporting a charitable organisation she worked with in Haiti that focused on building hospitals and schools.

Wilde acknowledged that Musk contributed to the organisation but said she never expected him to evolve into the public figure he is today. She described him as intelligent at the time but said she now strongly disagrees with the direction he has taken and his public rhetoric.

During the interview, Wilde also criticised aspects of misogynistic incel culture, arguing that some influential public figures promote ideas centred on male entitlement and power. She referenced Musk's comments about declining birth rates and population growth, suggesting they reflect broader beliefs she finds concerning.

The actress and director also revisited controversy surrounding comments she made during the promotional tour for Don't Worry Darling in 2022, when she described psychologist Jordan Peterson as a figure admired by parts of the incel community. While Wilde admitted she may have been unfair in calling Peterson a "pseudo-intellectual," she maintained that she disagrees with philosophies she believes reinforce misogynistic attitudes.

Wilde said she remains concerned about the growing influence of such ideologies, arguing that they contribute to harmful attitudes toward women and broader political and cultural divisions.