Sunny Hostin shocks the audience by calling Elon Musk a “bastard” on The View. Musk’s reaction stuns the studio, prompting Joy Behar’s immediate apology

Tensions reached a boiling point on a recent episode of The View when co-host Sunny Hostin made headlines for calling tech billionaire Elon Musk a “bastard” during a heated discussion.

The moment unfolded during a segment in which the hosts were responding to Musk’s recent comments calling the show “a meeting place for ignorant women.” The panel was visibly frustrated, but things escalated when Sunny leaned forward and said, with a sharp tone, “You know what? Elon Musk is a bastard.”

The studio audience gasped audibly. The energy in the room shifted instantly, and even her fellow hosts seemed momentarily stunned. Whoopi Goldberg raised her eyebrows but remained silent, while Sara Haines looked visibly uncomfortable.

Before the show could even cut to commercial, Joy Behar jumped in to try and diffuse the tension. She turned to the camera and said, “I think we should clarify that those are Sunny’s words, not the views of this program. We don’t usually go there.”

Just minutes later, Elon Musk himself responded in real time on X, posting: “I accept Sunny’s label. It says more about her than me.” He followed that with a meme of himself wearing sunglasses with the caption, “Unbothered. Still winning.”

The studio received an overwhelming wave of social media reactions almost immediately. Fans of The View split into camps. Some applauded Sunny for “saying what many are thinking” and standing up to Musk. Others said the remark crossed a line and was unbecoming of a daytime talk show host.

Later in the show, Joy Behar issued a formal apology on behalf of the panel. “We want to acknowledge that things got a little too heated today. That language was unexpected, and we apologize if it offended anyone watching at home.” Sunny remained silent during the apology, her expression calm but unapologetic.

Meanwhile, media outlets jumped on the controversy. Major headlines emerged within hours, calling it everything from a “live television meltdown” to “a bold stand against a tech mogul.”

Some political commentators sided with Hostin, suggesting that Musk’s language in previous statements had already crossed into misogyny. Others insisted that public figures must hold themselves to a higher standard — regardless of who they’re criticizing.

Musk’s fans, as expected, came to his defense, with many praising his measured online response. “Classic Elon,” one user wrote. “Let them scream while he keeps building rockets and companies.”

This exchange comes amid a broader pattern of escalating tension between Musk and mainstream media outlets. His comments about journalists, celebrities, and political figures have often sparked controversy, but this latest spat with The View has brought the feud to live television in a way that’s hard to ignore.

By the end of the day, clips of the moment had gone viral on nearly every platform, drawing millions of views and reigniting debates about free speech, gender politics, and public discourse in the media.

Whether Sunny Hostin will face further consequences or simply ride the wave of public attention remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the Musk vs. The View saga just entered a whole new chapter.