Elon Musk's Red Pill Tweet

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Part of a series on Elon Musk. [View Related Entries]

Overview

Elon Musk's Red Pill Tweet refers to a controversial tweet from entrepreneur Elon Musk in mid-May 2020 that resulted in a wave of online discussion between supporters and critics across social media platforms. Many online speculated that Musk was commenting on ending the shelter-in-place orders set to reduce the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as restarting the struggling economy. Musk’s post references The Matrix’s Red Pill, which essentially means “wake up to the truth.”

Background

On May 17th, 2020, Elon Musk tweeted “Take the red pill 🌹” on Twitter.^[1] In roughly 24 hours, the tweet (seen below) received over 476,000 likes, 95,000 retweets and a slew of comments from detractors and supporters. In recent weeks, Musk expressed his displeasure over the quarantine measures, particularly in California where Tesla’s factory is located, due to the effects these lockdowns were having on his company and the economy as a whole, leading many to conclude that this was the reasoning behind his message. The tweet also follows the decision by California officials (and other states in the U.S.) to extend the stay-at-home orders. Others expressed confusion over the message, with many associating the phrase "red pill" with right-wing ideologies and the “red rose emoji” with democratic socialism.

Developments

Online Reactions

On May 17th, 2020, following the tweet, numerous users replied to his remarks with a mixture of support and criticism. One such tweet (shown below) from Twitter^[2] user TheRightMelissa supports his message with the caption, “Democrats’ moving the goal post from stay home to “flatten the curve” to now “stay home forever as we take all your freedoms & rights” … has red pilled millions of Americans,” which received over 6,400 likes and 1,100 retweets.

Other users lashed out, seen in a tweet from Twitter^[3] user joncoopertweets, who said, “Take the red pill and shove it, Elon.” This reply was liked over 5,500 times and retweeted 447 times. Twitter^[4] user _mikeneezy also chimed in (seen below) and said, “Of course the billionaire wants you to take red pill. Means less taxes, less regulation, lower wages, and less accountability for how he manages his workforce. Take that red pill at your own peril. I'd rather ride that blue 🌊 & have a government working for people, not the 1%,” receiving 633 likes and 24 retweets.

On May 17th, 2020, Ivanka Trump also retweeted^[5] Musk alongside the caption, “Taken!” and received over 83,000 likes and 17,000 retweets. Shortly after, as well as due to the subsequent trending of The Matrix on Twitter, Lilly Wachowski retweeted^[6] both Musk and Ivanka saying, “Fuck both of you.” This tweet (shown below) was liked over 208,000 times and retweeted 41,700 times.

Later in the day, Musk then tweeted^[7] a meme depicting Morpheus from the film (seen below) with the caption, “When u take DayQuil & NyQuil at same time,” (117,000 likes, 9,800 retweets).

On May 17th, 2020, the Instagram^[8] account wefuckinghatedonaldtrump uploaded a photoshopped image of Musk made to look like a Karen (shown below), receiving over 6,400 likes.

Later that day after the tweet and ensuing controversy, Redditor^[9] drphilisturning69 posted to the r/OutOfTheLoop sub asking, “What's up with Elon Musk's recent tweet ‘take the red pill?’” The discussion quickly reached the top post on the subreddit with over 11,000 upvotes and 3,100 comments. Redditor PhiloBruh replied with the top comment (seen below).