'I Really Deeply Resent Him': Olivia Wilde Goes Off on 'Creature' Elon Musk Years After Meeting

Olivia Wilde isn't holding back when it comes to Elon Musk.

During the Tuesday, July 21, episode of “The Louis Theroux Podcast,” the filmmaker reflected on meeting the billionaire years ago before explaining why her opinion of him has dramatically changed. Wilde also discussed what she sees as the rise of misogynistic online communities and why she believes some influential public figures have helped amplify those ideas.

While recalling their first meeting, Wilde said she initially had a very different impression of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO “before he turned into a creature.”

"I really resent him now. I really deeply resent him," Wilde said. "I met him many, many years ago. I think SpaceX had just built their headquarters in L.A., and I got to go on a tour because I wanted to see the rocket ships. He was interested in donating money to an organization that I was a part of in Haiti that was building hospitals and schools."

She acknowledged that Musk contributed to the nonprofit's efforts but said she never expected him to become the person she sees today.

She added, “I believe he did donate a little bit of money, and that’s appreciated. I was confused by him. I would never have predicted he would go down the path he has gone down. He did seem really smart.”

Wilde argued that Musk has helped reinforce ideas she associates with misogynistic incel culture, pointing to his repeated comments about population growth.

She said he promotes the belief that men are more powerful than nature by “talking about how we don’t have enough people and the world is underpopulated and we could handle another billion people.”

Musk has frequently argued that the world faces an "underpopulation crisis," saying declining birth rates pose a greater long-term threat than global warming.

Incel is short for "involuntary celibate." Originally, the term referred to people who wanted romantic or sexual relationships but felt unable to find them despite their efforts.

Today, however, "incel culture" usually refers to a specific online movement or community where some self-identified incels express resentment toward women, attractive men (often called "Chads"), dating norms or society.

Wilde also revisited remarks she made during the Don't Worry Darling press tour in 2022, when she said Chris Pine's villainous character was partly inspired by author and commentator Jordan Peterson.

At the time, Wilde referred to Peterson as “this pseudo-intellectual hero to the incel community,” a comment that sparked widespread debate.

Looking back, she admitted one part of that criticism may have been too harsh.

Speaking on Theroux's podcast, Wilde said it “might have ben unfair for me to call [Peterson] a pseudo-intellectual” because “he obviously thinks about things deeply, but I just feel that he operates in a way that is a buttoned-up version of the type of thinkers that lead to the Andrew Tate’s of the world. There are different layers to that community, some of whom speak more clearly the points they are all actually filtering through.”

She also explained why she believes some of Peterson's ideas have broader cultural influence.

“My issue with Peterson is a lot of people who are not in any way misogynist have adopted this sanitized version of the same philosophy that’s rooted in deep misogyny and weaponized by the incel community,” Wilde continued. “The basic point of it is entitlement to power. That is something that many men are struggling with… I was disturbed by what I saw as this misogyny that was being weaponized and leading us to elect Donald Trump twice and beyond that just empower these groups of people who I think are dangerous.”

Wilde also addressed Peterson's emotional response to her 2022 remarks during his interview with Piers Morgan.

When asked at the time why her comments affected him so deeply, Peterson fought back tears and said, “It’s really something to see — constantly how many people are dying for lack of an encouraging word and how easy it is to provide that if you’re careful.”

Wilde said she found that explanation difficult to understand.

“‘Lack of an encouraging word’ is so absurd. There is a large, booming word of encouragement happening at all time for these men, which is: ‘This world is yours and you are entitled to it.’ That’s deeply ingrained in our society. This idea they need a reminder of encouragement and deserve more is ludicrous," she said.