Chloe Fineman, a cast member on Saturday Night Live, has made a bombshell claim: Elon Musk, the eccentric billionaire CEO of Tesla, was the host who made multiple SNL cast members cry during rehearsals for the show.
In a now-deleted TikTok video, Fineman spoke out after Musk recently criticized the long-running sketch comedy series, saying it has “been dying slowly for years, as they become increasingly out of touch with reality.”
“I just read a news article about Elon Musk being extremely upset about his impression of ‘SNL’, but I’m certain that you are watching the show.” Like, what are you talking about?” At the beginning of the video, Fineman spoke.
Fineman then revealed that she was the cast member Musk made cry, referring to comments made by her co-star Bowen Yang on “Watch What Happens Live” a few months ago. Yang had shared that a male host had made “multiple cast members cry” during a table read for the show without naming names.
“I’m like, you know what? I’m going to finally acknowledge that I’m the cast member he brought to tears. Fineman said, “He’s the host who made someone cry.” The comedian went on to describe her interaction with Musk during the SNL rehearsals, saying she had “stayed up all night writing the sketch” that she was so “excited” to present to him. However, Fineman claimed that Musk’s reaction was anything but enthusiastic.
“I was so excited, I came in, I asked if you had any questions, and you stared at me like you were firing me from Tesla and were like, ‘It’s not funny,'” Fineman recounted. She said she “waited for you to be like, ‘Ha ha, jk.’ No. Then you began to peruse my script, flipping through each page, and you were like, “I didn’t laugh once, not once.”
Despite Musk’s apparent disdain for the sketch, Fineman revealed that it did end up making it onto the show. “And it was fine,” she said. “I actually had a great time, and I thought you were quite amusing.” However, please exercise some manners here, sir.
Fineman did not name the sketch, but reports suggest it was “The Oooli Show,” in which Musk played a bespectacled producer named Ragnarok, attempting to attract the attention of Ooli, Fineman’s portrayal of Iceland’s “number one social media star.”
Fineman’s candid TikTok video provided a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes drama that can unfold during the high-pressure environment of putting together an episode of Saturday Night Live. The revelations also shed light on Musk’s apparent diva-like behavior, which seemingly left a lasting impact on at least one member of the SNL cast.
The video sparked a swift reaction on social media, with many fans expressing their support for Fineman and condemning Musk’s treatment of the cast. Some even called for the Tesla CEO to issue a public apology.
Fineman’s bold move to call out Musk’s behavior demonstrates the growing willingness of entertainment industry insiders to speak out against abusive treatment, even from high-profile figures. The ongoing fallout from this incident raises the question of whether Musk will respond to Fineman’s claims or if the matter will eventually disappear from public view.