Nigerian-American actress, Ayo Edebiri, has spoken out about the intense backlash she faced after billionaire Elon Musk shared a false report about her involvement in a Disney movie.
The Origin of the Fake News
Back in February 2024, a bogus report circulated online claiming that Disney was considering Ayo Edebiri as a replacement for Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Upon seeing the report, Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) and reacted with a blunt comment:
“Disney sucks.”
The Aftermath: Death Threats & Racial Slurs
Edebiri believes Musk’s comment amplified the fake news, leading to a wave of harassment. On her Instagram story, she recalled receiving some of the most vicious death threats and racial slurs of her life.
She wrote:
“Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life (idk if it’s the #1 moment, but for sure top 3) for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man. LMAO.
So not only is he [Elon Musk] double Sieg Heil-ing fascist, he’s an idiot but anyway.”
The Bigger Issue: Social Media Misinformation
Edebiri’s experience sheds light on the dangers of misinformation, especially when high-profile figures amplify unverified reports. With Musk’s massive online influence, his posts can direct a torrent of online abuse toward individuals—whether or not the news is real.
Public Reaction
The incident has reignited conversations about online harassment, fake news, and accountability for social media influencers and platform owners.
