American actress and comedian Ayo Edebiri has slammed Elon Musk for amplifying a false report that led to a wave of death threats and racial slurs against her.
Edebiri took to her Instagram Story to address the backlash she received after Musk shared a fabricated claim that she was set to replace Johnny Depp in a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot.
The baseless report, which surfaced in February 2024, falsely alleged that Disney was considering her for the franchise. Musk reacted to the rumor with a simple “Disney sucks”—a post that quickly went viral.
Edebiri’s Response: ‘He’s an Idiot’
Reflecting on the incident, Edebiri reposted Musk’s comment and wrote: “Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life (idk if it’s the #1 moment, but for sure top 3) for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man.”
She then added: “LMAO. So not only is he double Sieg Heil-ing fascist, he’s an idiot but anyway.”
Backing Bill Burr’s Criticism of Musk
Edebiri also referenced recent remarks made by comedian Bill Burr, who blasted Musk during an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air. Burr mocked Musk’s appearance, calling him a “Nazi,” accusing him of dying his hair plugs and having a “laminated face.” He also questioned why liberals were so intimidated by him.
Edebiri responded to Burr’s statements with a bullseye emoji, signaling her agreement and doubling down on her criticism of Musk.
Debunking the ‘Pirates’ Casting Rumors
Despite the online uproar, Edebiri confirmed she was never attached to a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot and had never even heard of the supposed project before the controversy.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer did reveal in 2023 that a Pirates reboot was in development, with writer Jeff Nathanson working on the script. While Bruckheimer praised the progress, he hinted that Johnny Depp’s return as Captain Jack Sparrow remained unlikely.
