Kimmel Mocks Musk's Meltdown Over Helen of Troy Casting

During his monologue on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel addressed Elon Musk's strong reaction to the rumored casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy in "The Odyssey." Kimmel suggested Musk should "stay in [his] lane" after Musk expressed outrage on X, claiming director Christopher Nolan "desecrated the Odyssey" with DEI-influenced casting. Musk questioned who implemented DEI criteria for Academy Award eligibility, seeking to prioritize "making the best movie."

Kimmel countered Musk's rant by referencing the controversial design of Musk's own trucks. He then pointed out that Newsmax's Rob Finnerty also asserted Helen of Troy was not Black. Kimmel emphasized that Helen of Troy is a mythical figure from a poem, akin to Santa Claus, and thus not bound by historical accuracy regarding race. He further elaborated that Helen's mythological origins involve Zeus disguised as a swan, highlighting the fictional nature of the character.

Kimmel concluded by humorously suggesting that if anyone should be angry about casting, it should be directed at whoever is cast as Odysseus, referencing his own long-standing comedic feud with Matt Damon.