Whoopi Goldberg Tells Elon Musk to “Look in the Mirror” Over Lupita Nyong’o Remarks

EGOT-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg is calling out billionaire Elon Musk after his harsh criticism of Lupita Nyong'o and her rumored casting in The Odyssey, the upcoming epic from director Christopher Nolan.

The controversy began over the weekend when Musk reacted on X to unconfirmed reports that Nyong’o may play Helen of Troy. Responding to another user’s criticism, Musk wrote, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity,” fueling backlash across social media.

Goldberg addressed Musk’s comments during Tuesday’s episode of The View, where she strongly defended Nyong’o and questioned why Musk felt the need to weigh in at all.

Referring to Homer’s ancient description of Helen of Troy, Goldberg said critics were clinging to a narrow and outdated idea of beauty. She pointed out that Nyong’o is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world and reminded viewers that The Odyssey is a work of fiction.

“You don’t actually have to go see the movie,” Goldberg said, adding that Musk might want to “look in the mirror” before criticizing others’ appearances. She also made it clear she wasn’t bothered by potential backlash directed at her, saying she knows exactly who she is.

Fellow panelist Sunny Hostin echoed those thoughts, emphasizing that The Odyssey includes mythical creatures and fictional characters, meaning there is no single “correct” way to cast the roles. She added that beauty is subjective and not limited to one race or appearance.

Hostin went further, accusing Musk of promoting racist ideas online in the past and said she believes it’s important to call out such behavior directly.

Cohost Sara Haines took a lighter tone, joking that someone should remind Musk that Jesus was Middle Eastern. She added that Musk has far more important issues to focus on than movie casting choices.

The Odyssey is Nolan’s first film since the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer and is set for release on July 17, 2026. The film features a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.

Despite the online noise, anticipation for the film remains extremely high, with fans eager to see Nolan’s take on the legendary Greek epic—casting choices and all.