Barry Diller who shared box with Elon Musk at the US Open says: If people saw him in box today, they will throw
Barry Diller
has commented on what he sees as a shift in public sentiment towards
Tesla
CEO
Elon Musk
. Speaking on Monday's episode of the "On with Kara Swisher" podcast, Diller recalled witnessing Musk's popularity firsthand at the 2024 US Open. However, Diller noted that less than a year later, public mood around Musk appears to have changed significantly. "If today he was in that box, they'd throw tomatoes at him," Diller said during the podcast.
Public mood on Elon Musk has flipped: Barry Diller
The duo sat in the same luxury box to watch the US Open men's singles final match in September last year where Musk, Diller said, received enthusiastic reception from the crowd.
"A third of the faces in that audience were looking at him and not at this champ game that was taking place," he said. The 83-year-old was 'amazed' to see people gathering to take pictures and ask for Musk's signature during a break in the game.
Eight months later, Diller said a public appearance like that wouldn't unfold the same way it did in 2024. 'If today he was in that box, they'd throw tomatoes at him," Diller said, adding 'It's only September to May. I've never seen anything as swift as that.'
Elon Musk's ties with Trump stirs backlash
Elon Musk emerged as a significant figure in the US election, with his influence seen as helping pave the way for Donald Trump's win. He was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – the taskforce set up to cut government spending. However, his growing influence in the
Trump administration
has had a noticeable impact on the perception of his companies, especially Tesla. His increasingly public ties to Trump and right-wing politics have sparked backlash from key Tesla stakeholders, including consumers, investors, and advertisers. So much so that the electric vehicle maker's stock dropped nearly 40% this year before a resurgence last Friday.
The company also faced calls for boycotts and criticism from progressive consumers. Musk's personal brand has become so entangled with Tesla's that his political rhetoric — including anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) statements and attacks on media — is being viewed as representative of the company itself.
When Tesla Bull Ross Gerber called for Musk's exit
Things got to a point when Tesla Bull Ross Gerber called for his exit from the company, stating that 'the company's reputation has just been destroyed by Elon Musk'. During an interview with Larry Kudlow, Musk admitted he was managing multiple businesses 'with great difficulty'. In the interview, he was seen almost 'choking' while talking about Tesla struggles.
It was eventually during the company's Q1 results, Musk said that he will significantly reduce his time at DOGE in May. He then said 'Starting next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly'.
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