Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus Robot ‘Tries to Start a Fight’ at ‘Tron: Ares’ Premiere with Jared Leto
Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus made headlines at the Los Angeles premiere of Tron: Ares, but not all attention was positive. The robot’s appearance on the red carpet went viral just hours after news surfaced of a lawsuit accusing Tesla of negligence.
Optimus, one of Tesla’s custom humanoid robots, joined the premiere of the third Tron film, starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Jeff Bridges, at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, celebrated the robot’s red carpet debut on his social media platform X, posting, “Optimus at the Tron Premiere!” He reshared Disney’s post featuring the robot alongside Hollywood stars.
Optimus at the Tron premiere https://t.co/gE2zAhyWeP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2025
The Tesla account for Optimus also commented on the viral moment, tweeting, “Tried to start a fight at the Tron: Ares premiere.”
Video clips of the event quickly spread online, showing Optimus performing various fighting stances while actor Jared Leto appeared in the background. Fans quickly shared the footage, and the robot’s antics became a trending topic.
Greetings Programs. Welcome to the World Premiere of #TronAres pic.twitter.com/BoNMtI9xHj
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) October 7, 2025
XBusiness also promoted the event, describing the collaboration between Tesla, Disney, and xAI. “@xAI, @WaltDisneyCo, and @Tesla today announced interactive AI-driven experiences in-person and on X to celebrate the world premiere of TRON: ARES,” the post read.
“By integrating xAI’s advanced AI technology and X’s real-time platform with Disney’s iconic TRON universe, this partnership will immerse red carpet attendees and fans in the neon-lit digital realm of this groundbreaking franchise.”
However, just hours after the premiere buzz, CBS8 reported that a lawsuit had been filed against Tesla regarding the same robot. Peter Hinterdobler, a Tesla robotics mechanic, claims in the suit that Optimus attacked him during a late-night maintenance shift in February 2025, knocking him unconscious.
The complaint states that the robot activated unexpectedly and pinned Hinterdobler to the ground with an estimated 8,000 pounds of counterbalance weight.
Hinterdobler alleges that the robot clamped its mechanical arm onto his left shoulder, forcing him against a table until co-workers could intervene and deactivate the machine. The mechanic reportedly suffered injuries to his shoulder, neck, and back, as well as psychological trauma.
He is seeking damages for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering, along with punitive damages for what his attorney called Tesla’s “willful and reckless disregard” for employee safety.
The incident casts a shadow over Optimus’ red carpet appearance, showing that while the robot can entertain at high-profile events, safety concerns remain a serious issue.
It’s both impressive and worrying that a robot can draw such attention in Hollywood while still posing real-world risks. What do you think about Tesla’s Optimus and the lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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