Chloe Fineman, a star of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), recently spoke out about her uncomfortable experience with Elon Musk during his 2021 guest-hosting stint on the show. In a TikTok video that was later deleted, Fineman claimed Musk made her cry while preparing a sketch for his episode. Her emotional account has since captured significant public interest and sparked further conversation about Musk’s approach on the set.
In the video, Fineman shared that she spent an entire night crafting a sketch specifically for the Tesla CEO’s performance. When she eagerly approached him to discuss it, she said Musk responded with a blank stare, making her feel as if she were being “fired from Tesla.” “You made I, Chloe Fineman, burst into tears,” she said, recounting how Musk allegedly critiqued her work. According to Fineman, Musk went through her script page by page, commenting, “I didn’t laugh once. Not one time.” She expected a lighthearted follow-up, but there was none.
Musk’s Response on Social Media
When asked for comment, both Fineman and Musk did not provide statements directly. However, Musk responded indirectly on X (formerly Twitter), where he defended his feedback on the sketch. In his post, Musk acknowledged his concern about the overall humor in the episode, writing, “Frankly, it was only on the Thursday before the Saturday that ANY of the sketches generated laughs.” He admitted he was initially worried his appearance would be “unfunny,” though he felt it ultimately came together.
Musk also linked to a recent appearance on the “All-In Podcast,” where he mentioned that early on, “nothing was funny” during his work on the “SNL” episode. Fineman has since clarified that Musk’s harsh assessment did not prevent the sketch from being included in the show, and she even thought Musk’s final performance was “really funny.” However, she urged him to show “a little manners” when interacting with people’s creative work.
Tensions Among “SNL” Cast and Hosts
Fineman’s revelation aligns with earlier comments from “SNL” cast member Bowen Yang, who previously hinted on “Watch What Happens Live” that an unnamed host had made multiple people on set cry. In her TikTok, Fineman suggested Musk could be the host Yang referred to, saying, “He’s the host that made someone cry… maybe there are others.”
Musk’s Continued Criticism of “SNL”
Musk’s recent social media posts have continued to stir reactions, especially after “SNL” aired a parody of him in a recent episode, with Dana Carvey impersonating the billionaire. Musk criticized the show’s portrayal, stating that “SNL has been dying slowly for years,” and Carvey’s impression “just sounds like Dana Carvey.” He also made comments about the show’s alleged “woke” direction, maintaining that it has lost its original edge.
For Fineman, Musk’s recent criticisms of “SNL” were what ultimately pushed her to share her own experience. Although she initially refrained from revealing the story, she decided to speak out after Musk’s continued “rude” behavior online.
