Elon Musk’s recent livestream intended to highlight his gaming skills and the capabilities of his satellite internet service, Starlink, ended prematurely after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO faced significant online criticism.
Broadcasting live on X from his private jet on Saturday, April 5, Musk played Path of Exile 2, describing the session as an “airborne continuity test” for Starlink. The billionaire entrepreneur aimed to showcase both his gaming abilities and the efficiency of his internet service but was met with disparaging remarks from other gamers.
As the livestream began, Musk received numerous messages in the game chat, where players mocked him with personal comments. One message read, “You have no real friends and will die alone,” while another stated, “You ruined the country just like you ruined all your marriages.”
Participants continued with comments on his appearance and business operations. One gamer asked, “Elon how is it possible to look this dumb and ugly why is ur Tesla company falling apart.” Another player, impersonating MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair, who previously claimed Musk fathered her child, wrote: “Elon. It’s me, Ashley St Claire. I have no other means of contacting you so I bought PoE2 early access just for this. Please pay your child support. Thank you Elon.”
Musk attempted to address the situation by saying, “Anyone spamming the chat will get uhhh,” and then used an ignore function on some messages, according to the Tribune. However, the comments persisted.
One player referenced a recent statement by Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, who commented on his gaming skills. Wilson had spoken about her father’s gaming abilities during an interview with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker last month.
Vivian Wilson, who claimed she and her twin brother often assisted Musk in the game Overwatch when she was 12, stated that Musk was a Bronze-ranked Torbjörn main, a lower skill tier in the game, according to Kotaku.
Despite Musk’s claims of gaming expertise, suspicions about his Path of Exile 2 high score had already emerged in the gaming community. Many believed his account was “boosted” or that someone else played for him, as his in-game characters were unusually strong for his purported playtime.
These allegations gained further attention when Musk was removed from Path of Exile 2 for “performing too many actions too fast.” When asked about his gaming skills, Musk joked about having a “Chinese driver” for his account, referring to “Elon Ma,” which many interpreted as an admission of account boosting.
Prominent gaming figures also commented on the situation. Twitch streamer Asmongold challenged Musk to prove he reached level 97 in the game, offering to stream exclusively on X for a year if Musk could verify his skills.
During the livestream, viewers observed that Musk appeared unsettled by the ongoing criticisms. He started playing music by his former partner Grimes, with whom he shares three children, adding to the tension.
The session ended after Musk faced difficulties with the game’s bosses, according to Men’s Journal. Following his character’s third defeat, Musk abruptly concluded the livestream, citing a lost connection.
One user remarked that Musk “rage quit” after repeatedly failing against a tutorial boss in hardcore mode, further challenging his gaming claims.
This incident adds to Musk’s ongoing public controversies, which recently included accusations against a Ubisoft-affiliated content creator. These events reportedly led to his daughter’s unexpected remarks about his gaming abilities.
As Musk seeks to establish a presence in the gaming community, this livestream and the subsequent criticism underscore the difficulties he faces in gaining credibility in a domain that prioritizes genuine skill and dedication over celebrity status.
