Ayo Edebiri reveals death threats after Elon Musk shared fake news about her
On Thursday, March 13, Nigerian-American actress Ayo Edebiri opened up about the extreme backlash she received after billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shared fake news about her in February 2024.
According to Edebiri, the false report claimed that Disney was considering her as a replacement for Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, sparking widespread online anger.
Musk, who owns the platform X, reacted to the fabricated report by writing, “Disney sucks,” which amplified the story’s reach and led to severe online abuse.
Edebiri, shocked by the resulting onslaught, revealed that she received “insane death threats” and racist slurs in the aftermath. In an Instagram story, she shared, “Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life (idk if it’s the #1 moment, but for sure top 3) for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man. LMAO. So not only is he [Elon Musk] double Sieg Heil-ing fascist, he’s an idiot but anyway.”
The incident highlights the far-reaching consequences of misinformation and the influence of high-profile individuals in amplifying fake news, leaving the actress to reflect on the ugly side of social media and the power of public figures.
