Actress Ayo Edebiri has condemned billionaire Elon Musk for amplifying a baseless rumour regarding her casting in a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot. The star of The Bear revealed that she was bombarded with a staggering number of death threats and racial slurs after Musk helped spread misinformation about her involvement in the popular franchise.
The false claim originated from a right-wing account on X (formerly Twitter), which inaccurately asserted that Edebiri would be replacing Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Musk, known for his controversial presence on social media, reshared the post, adding the comment “Disney sucks.” His endorsement of the unfounded rumour sparked significant backlash against Edebiri.
In response, Edebiri took to her Instagram Stories to call out Musk, labelling him a “fascist” and an “idiot” for spreading fake news that subjected her to severe harassment. She wrote, “Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life (maybe not the #1 moment, but definitely top 3) for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man. LMAO. So not only is he double sg hl-ing [sieg heil-ing] fascist, he’s an idiot. But anyway.”
The rumour, which had not been verified by any credible Hollywood source, quickly gained traction. It was not supported by any official statements from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or its producers.
The Pirates of the Caribbean series, which stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, has earned over $5 billion at the global box office. While producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed plans for a reboot in 2024, no official announcements regarding casting or production details have been made.
Related Information:
The Impact of Misinformation on Celebrities: Celebrities like Ayo Edebiri and others frequently face significant online harassment stemming from unverified rumours. The spread of false information can have severe emotional and professional consequences, as seen in this instance.
Elon Musk’s Social Media Influence: Elon Musk’s large following on social media platforms, particularly X, amplifies his reach and influence. His posts often spark controversy, as evidenced by his resharing of the Pirates of the Caribbean rumour.