Colman Domingo has wasted no time in reacting to Elon Musk’s statements about “The Odyssey.”
The actor recently used the late-night television platform to launch a comedic attack against the tech mogul, slamming his intentions to make the AI version of the film more “historically accurate.”
Domingo’s statements came after Whoopi Goldberg pushed back against critics of the new film, urging them not to watch it if they are not interested in it.
Stepping into the late-night spotlight while filling in for Jimmy Kimmel, Domingo dedicated a significant portion of his monologue to roasting Musk.
The actor took aim at the businessman following his recent announcement to create an artificial intelligence remake of “The Odyssey” using his Grok platform.
While addressing the studio audience, Domingo pointed out that Musk claims his upcoming version will be “historically accurate,” before quipping, “By ‘historically accurate’, he means whiter than Christmas at Cracker Barrel.”
The guest host explained that the backlash stems from Musk and his followers being upset over the inclusive casting choices in the film.
Domingo also highlighted the absurdity of the argument by pointing out that it is impossible to make a historically faithful adaptation of a literary work that was completely made up from the start.
As the crowd erupted in applause and laughter, the performer continued to hammer home his point, comparing the legendary epic poem to “The Hunger Games.”
“The Odyssey is fiction. You know, like The Hunger Games, or the president’s cognitive exams,” he said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!“
Landing another direct hit on Musk, Domingo questioned if the businessman had anything useful to occupy his time with, noting that he was supposed to be living on Mars by now.
He concluded the jab with mock sympathy, telling the audience that it must be a difficult week for the tech giant seeing Helen of Troy played by a pretty Black woman, while Kimmel’s stage was currently hosted by a “beautiful black man.”
Elon Musk Was Heavily Criticized For His Statements By Scott Derrickson
Domingo wasn’t the only one who had something to say about Musk’s statements. “Doctor Strange” director Scott Derrickson took to social media to criticize Musk over his negative stance.
Addressing the billionaire’s complaints about accuracy, Derrickson argued that the businessman completely lacks an understanding of filmmaking and creative artistry. In a now-deleted post on X, he asserted that Musk’s opinions on art are “worthless,” per The Blast.
Numerous internet commentators echoed Derrickson’s sentiments, dismissing the executive’s artistic judgment as meaningless.
What Elon Musk Said About Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’
The backlash Musk received from social media users stemmed from a tweet he shared on X and his general sentiment towards the film so far.
The dispute originally began months before the premiere of Nolan’s cinematic adaptation, back when rumors surfaced concerning the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. At that time, the businessman posted on X that the acclaimed filmmaker “has lost his integrity”.
Building upon those long-standing grievances, the billionaire made a major statement on July 22, promising to produce a full feature film of the Greek epic using the Grok AI.
“Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer,” Musk wrote, as reported by The Blast.
Whoopi Goldberg Defends Film’s Casting Choices
While the tech mogul pushes forward with his computer-generated alternative, daytime host Goldberg is offering a direct solution to those upset by Nolan’s blockbuster. According to The Blast, the television personality addressed the wave of political pushback surrounding the film’s inclusive cast.
Furthermore, questioning why unhappy viewers would buy tickets in the first place, she stated, “If you don’t wanna see it, then don’t go see it. Why do you care who’s cast in it? I don’t understand this idea that if we hate it, everybody must hate it.”
Offering a final piece of advice, Goldberg urged dissatisfied audiences not to watch anything they don’t want to watch because “movies are not real.”
Inside The Unconventional Set Rules Behind The Scenes Of ‘The Odyssey’
While public debate continues over the film’s casting choices, focus has also shifted to the strict rules governing the set of Nolan’s production.
During an appearance on Brittany Broski’s “Royal Court,” Anne Hathaway shed light on the filmmaker’s unusual working environment by sharing that one of his strict expectations is not seeing people on set wearing Uggs.
Her co-star Matt Damon chimed in with another observation, stating, “Thou shalt not sit down. There are no chairs on set,” as reported by The Blast.
He also expanded on the director’s dislike for Uggs, stating that he “hates” them likely because they symbolize leisure.