Elon Musk ended a video game livestream from his private jet after he received hundreds of hate messages and lost to the game’s first boss fights.
The SpaceX CEO, who was testing the capabilities of his satellite system Starlink, closed down a stream of Path of Exile 2 after being defeated by the Bloated Miller.
Newsweek contacted Musk via Twitter’s press office for comment outside of normal office hours on Tuesday.
The Context
Elon Musk has increasing become a target of backlash over his prominent role in the Trump administration as the head of the federal cost-cutting group the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk remains popular with many Americans, but his approval rating has dipped underwater.
The Tesla boss’ popularity with his fellow gamers has suffered over accusations he has lied about his abilities. He has a very highly ranked account for Path of Exiles 2; however, observers of his gaming livestreams have suggested his ability does not match.
What to Know
Archive video of the stream showed a flow of trolling messages from other players as Musk played the game.
One player wrote “you have no friends and will die alone” so frequently that the messages filled most of Musk’s stream. Musk did not react to any of the messages displayed.
Other messages during the 2-hour stream made fun of Tesla’s declining stock and spread conspiracy theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The stream received over 2 million views on X, formerly Twitter, Musk’s social media site.
Elon Musk playing ‘Path of Exile 2’.
X
Musk was previously accused of lying about his skill at Path of Exile 2 by professional players who said that his performance did not match his highly leveled account. Many influencers speculated that Musk had paid someone else to play the game for him.
Musk has both pushed back against the accusation and partially confessed, telling gaming streamer “NikoWrex” that top characters all “require multiple people playing the account to win a leveling race.”
Musk was trialling Starlink’s capabilities for planes mid-flight, running the stream via the satellite service through X. United Airlines plans to use the service to provide WiFi to passengers before the end of 2025.
What People Are Saying
Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, told Twitch streamer Hasan Piker’s channel on March 29 that her father was “godawful” at video games. “This is so cringe. Why would you even pretend to be? It’s fine not to be a gamer.”
What Happens Next
Musk’s DOGE role as a special government employee is subject to a 130-day time limit. Assuming his first day was the day of Trump’s inauguration, Musk’s time in the federal government would end on May 30; though President Donald Trump may hire him in another position.
Vice President JD Vance has said Musk will “remain a friend and an adviser” of Trump after the Tesla CEO leaves DOGE.
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