Musk ex-partner Grimes ‘happy to denounce Nazi-ism’ after his salute
Musk has been criticised for making two Nazi-like gestures at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. His ex-partner, the singer Grimes, has distanced herself from him, while Musk has defended himself in a typically disgraceful way.
Singer Grimes, who shares three children with Elon Musk, has distanced herself from the tech billionaire following his controversial Nazi-like gesture at Donald Trump’s Presidential inauguration.
The SpaceX / Tesla CEO and owner of X slapped his chest with his right hand and flung his arm up in a diagonal pose – a gesture horrifically reminiscent of the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil’ salute signalling obedience to Adolf Hitler.
Now, Musk’s former partner Grimes has responded to the controversy on social media.
One of her fans wrote the following on X: “I’m more than willing so (sic) sacrifice my grimes follow and get a tattoo coverup for his btw. I’m hitting a breaking point.”
The Canadian singer responded by writing: “While I deeply respect your concern- it is unhealthy that people are this upset when I have not even been online yet today and am only just learning about this controversy now. I don’t know what happened and I will not make a rash statement – I am not a citizen of this country.”
She then said that she wouldn’t respond immediately as she needed time to “research the state of affairs” and did not want to “say something that will create an international scandal”.
However, she did clarify that she should not have to be held accountable for his actions: “I am not him. I will not make a statement every time he does something. I can only send love back into a world that is hurting.”
Another fan posted on X: “We understand that you are unwilling to directly talk about his actions but please denounce all the all-right/Nazi’s (sic) that feel comfortable in your comments. It would do a lot of good to clarify your stance right now.”
A fair comment, to which Grimes responded: “I’m happy to denounce Nazi-ism – and the far alt right. Would that help clear things up? I’ve just gotten out of breakfast and have to catch a flight, and am still debating how to approach things diplomatically because I feel in over my head. But if there’s concern about that, I am happy to set the record strait (sic) in a meaningful way.”
Elon Musk, on the other hand, has yet to formally denounce Nazism. Instead, he responded to the backlash by posting: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired”.
The Nazi salute made infamous by Adolf Hitler is illegal in several countries, including Germany.
A Berlin judge, Kai-Uwe Herbst, told the Berliner Zeitung that a deliberate right arm thrust in the air is sufficient evidence for bringing charges against someone under German law. However, he added it would also be necessary to prove that the individual concerned knew this was a Hitler salute and that there was malicious intent.
For their part, the Anti-Defamation League won’t call Musk’s gesture a Nazi salute. They referred to it as an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm” on X. They added: “All sides should give one another a bit of grace.”
Still, Musk’s gesture has caused great controversy and concern, especially since he has been repeatedly criticised for sharing right-wing content on X and seemingly supported anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. He also recently endorsed Germany’s far-right populist AfD party.
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” he wrote on X.
ADVERTISEMENTMusk recently invited Alice Weidel, the leader of AfD onto his platform evening for a discussion covering everything from energy policy to the party’s neo-Nazi associations. During the discussion, Weidel said her party stands for the opposite of what Hitler stood for, claiming Hitler was a “socialist” despite the Nazi leader being openly anti-communist.
Italian media reported that Andrea Stroppa, a confidant of Musk who has connected him with far-right Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, posted the clip of Musk with the caption: “Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute”.
Stroppa later deleted his post, Italian media said.
Indeed, many have defended Musk’s gesture by saying it was the Roman salute.
ADVERTISEMENTStroppa later posted that “that gesture, which some mistook for a Nazi salute, is simply Elon, who has autism, expressing his feelings by saying, ‘I want to give my heart to you'”.
Regardless of the explanations and excuses, Musk’s salute has delighted extremists, who posted their approval online.
Christopher Pohlhaus, the leader of the notorious neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, posted the clip of Musk’s salute on Telegram with the caption: “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears over it.”
“Incredible things are happening already lmao,” posted Andrew Torba, the founder of the far-right Christian Nationalist social media platform Gab, while a chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted a note on Telegram saying: “Thanks for (sometimes) hearing us, Elon. The White Flame will rise again.”
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