‘The Invite’ Star Olivia Wilde Says She “Deeply Resents” Elon Musk After His Dramatic Transformation

Olivia Wilde is speaking openly about Elon Musk and the rise of online misogyny, sharing how much her opinion of the billionaire has changed over the years. During a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the filmmaker reflected on meeting Musk long before his recent political and public controversies, saying she never expected him to become the person he is today.

Wilde explained that she first met Musk many years ago after visiting SpaceX’s headquarters in Los Angeles. At the time, she was involved with a charity in Haiti that was building hospitals and schools, and Musk had shown interest in supporting the project financially. Looking back, she said the experience left her with a very different impression than the one she has today.

Speaking on the podcast, Wilde said, “I really resent him now. I really deeply resent him.” She continued by recalling their meeting: “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. 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.”

According to Wilde, one of the reasons her opinion has changed is Musk’s public comments and the ideas she believes he has helped amplify. During the interview, she connected some of his views to what she described as a growing culture of misogyny online. She pointed to his repeated statements about population decline, saying they fit into a broader belief held by some communities that men should have greater power and control over society.

The conversation also revisited comments Wilde made several years ago while promoting her film Don’t Worry Darling. At the time, she said the movie’s main villain was partly inspired by author and psychologist Jordan Peterson, whom she described as a figure admired by parts of the incel community. Those remarks received widespread attention and sparked criticism from Peterson himself.

Looking back, Wilde admitted that one part of her original description may have been too harsh. She told Louis Theroux, “It might have been unfair for me to call him a pseudo-intellectual because he obviously thinks about things deeply.” However, she said she still believes Peterson promotes ideas that can lead people toward more extreme figures.

Wilde explained, “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.” She added that she believes the core idea behind those beliefs is a feeling of entitlement to power, something she considers dangerous when it spreads through mainstream culture.

The interview also touched on Peterson’s emotional reaction during a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, where he responded to Wilde’s earlier comments. Peterson said many young men were simply looking for encouragement and support. Wilde strongly disagreed with that argument.

She responded on the podcast by saying, “’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.”

According to The Louis Theroux Podcast, Wilde’s comments were part of a wider discussion about modern politics, online culture and the influence of public figures. Her remarks about Musk have quickly attracted attention online, adding another chapter to the ongoing debate surrounding the billionaire and his growing role in public life.

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