A heated discussion on "The View" led to an immediate correction after co-host Joy Behar made unsubstantiated allegations about Elon Musk's stance on apartheid.
According to The Daily Caller, Behar had to retract her statement during Thursday's broadcast after falsely claiming that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) overseer supported apartheid during his youth in South Africa.
The controversy unfolded when Behar criticized Musk's relationship with former President Donald Trump, segueing into accusations about Musk's alleged apartheid support. However, evidence suggests the opposite, as Walter Isaacson's biography reveals that Musk attended an anti-apartheid concert during that period.
Behar's initial criticism focused on Musk's interactions with Trump before shifting to allegations about his background in South Africa. Her comments drew immediate attention from the show's production team.
During the next segment, Behar acknowledged her error and admitted to making assumptions without a factual basis. She even made a lighthearted plea to Musk not to pursue legal action against her.
The co-host's comments about Musk included the following statement:
[Musk] kisses [President Donald Trump's] butt and strokes his tiny ego, a big ego, whatever it is. And he can take a nap while the guy [who] was not born in this country, who was born under apartheid in South Africa, so he has that mentality going on. He was pro-apartheid as I understand it.
Musk was born in South Africa in 1971 and lived there during the apartheid era, which ended in 1990 when he was 19 years old. He later relocated to the United States in 1992 to attend Stanford University.
The tech entrepreneur's actual stance during the apartheid period contradicts Behar's claims. Historical records show his participation in anti-apartheid activities, including attending concerts opposing the racial segregation system.
Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002 and has since played significant roles in various companies and government initiatives. His current position as DOGE overseer has generated both praise and criticism for his approach to government spending reduction.
This incident adds to a series of retractions made by "The View" hosts in recent months. The show has faced criticism for making unverified claims about public figures and political events.
Co-hosts Ana Navarro and Whoopi Goldberg have also had to issue corrections for inaccurate statements about various political figures and events. These instances include false claims about Representative Troy Nehls and statements regarding Vice President J.D. Vance.
The show's frequent need for corrections has raised questions about fact-checking procedures and the responsibility of daytime television hosts in presenting accurate information.
Joy Behar's unfounded accusations about Elon Musk's stance on apartheid during Thursday's broadcast of The View required an immediate retraction. The incident occurred while discussing Musk's role as DOGE overseer and his relationship with former President Trump. The co-host's swift correction came after realizing she had no evidence to support her claims about Musk's position on apartheid during his youth in South Africa.
