Erykah Badu pokes fun at Elon Musk after Tesla factories are vandalised
Erykah Badu has joined one of the most politically divisive conversations in America surrounding Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Ever since announcing that he was going to help finance Donald Trump’s 2024 election run, Musk has been persona non grata in the eyes of many which has led to Tesla receiving a backlash by proxy of association.
With the gap between supporters of the Democrat and Republican parties widening, Musk’s Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has created political chaos in America which has inadvertently led to a wave of vandalism. People have been destroying Tesla cars and trashing the company’s dealerships in protest, and Erykah Badu has now commented on this craze.
Taking to social media, the ‘On & On’ vocalist made a joke, writing, “Just vandalized my own Tesla. Trying to stay on trend.” The neo-soul icon is highlighting what many are calling the extreme action many Democrats are taking by wrecking people’s Tesla cyber trucks and attacking the brand by bringing attention to many of the vehicles’ shortcomings.
During an interview on Fox News, Musk expressed dismay, stating, “It’s really come as quite a shock to me that there is this level of, really, hatred and violence from the left.”
He continued, “I always thought that the left, you know, Democrats, were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring, and yet they’re burning down cars, they’re firebombing dealerships, they’re firing bullets into dealerships, they’re smashing up Teslas.”
Badu is known for adding a bit of levity to heavy political issues on social media. However, fans of the singer are more excited at the prospect of her releasing a new album. It will be her first project in 15 years with her last body of work being 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).
Badu was recently honoured by Billboard for her contributions to music and was given the Icon Award at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 ceremony which cemented her status as one of the most groundbreaking voices in modern soul music.
The last time Badu was in the news, she was being lambasted for calling out Beyoncé, who she insisted copied her style of wearing oversized hats. The provocative post undoubtedly started a conversation, but now her fans await an album.