Saqib Majid
According to a headline that reads more like a dystopian comedy plot twist than real news, Elon Musk reportedly paid an incredible $790 million to acquire the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in what appears to be retaliation. The driving force? Alec Baldwin, an actor, called Musk a “scumbag billionaire with a rocket fetish” in a comment on The View. The View was terminated 48 hours after the program aired, and Musk’s most recent business triumph garnered international attention.
After Baldwin appeared on the venerable talk program, things swiftly got out of hand. The statement was made by the actor, who is well-known for his direct views and public disputes, during a conversation about the impact of digital companies on contemporary politics and society. The studio crowd gasped and laughed when Baldwin said, “People like Elon Musk—scumbag billionaires with rocket fetishes—are shaping the world in their own image.”
It seems that the statements reverberated not just within the studio but even reached Musk’s Twitter alerts. Or “X,” as it is currently known under Musk’s control. In typical Elon manner, the billionaire CEO, who is renowned for his impetuous online conduct and trollish sense of humor, answered with a meme rather than a news release. Baldwin was seen in the passenger seat of a Tesla in the post, which said, “Next stop: irrelevance.”
However, that was just the start.
Within hours of the slur, Musk contacted Disney executives, who own ABC, according to people familiar with the matter. Even though ABC wasn’t up for sale, a Musk-sized offer has the power to swiftly alter people’s views. According to sources, a combination of money, Tesla stock options, Dogecoin, and—in a rather strange turn of events—an all-access VIP pass to upcoming Mars missions were used to cement the sale. The bundle had a total estimated value of $790 million.
According to an unnamed Disney executive, “it was one of the strangest offers we’ve ever received.” We were unable to determine whether it was satire or serious. However, since the funds were cleared, we won’t be asking too many questions.
It was too late by the time the majority of ABC employees learned of the rumors. Employees were notified by 9 a.m. the next day via an internal email that Elon Musk had become the network’s new majority owner, effective immediately. In a subsequent memo, The View’s fate was simply stated: “Canceled.” Indefinitely. Think of it as de-platformed.
Many in the media business were taken aback by the abrupt cancellation. One of ABC’s most popular daytime shows was The View, which debuted in 1997. For decades, it was a ratings magnet due to its panel of vocal hosts who frequently sparked contentious political debates. Even though the show had a history of controversy, few anticipated its sudden—and highly public—cancellation.
Musk tweeted, “Freedom of speech means you can say what you want,” in response to the ruling on his X account. I’m not required to offer you airtime on my network because of this. Particularly not when you insult me. 😘
Alec Baldwin, on the other hand, accepted the mayhem. “If I had known calling Elon Musk a scumbag would get The View canceled, I’d have done it years ago,” he told reporters outside his New York home. To be honest, I might have done it for fun.
One of the show’s original co-hosts, Joy Behar, wasn’t as amused. “I’ve made it through 20 years on this program, many guest walkouts, and even a wardrobe mishap on live TV, but Elon Musk canceling me? That is plain absurd.
Sunny Hostin expressed her shock on Instagram Live. When I received the email, I was really sitting in the makeup chair. I assumed it was a joke. They even switched the coffee in the break room to Soylent. This is insane.
Regarding the future, it has been said that Musk intends to rename ABC as “AB*C,” with the asterisk purportedly representing “alternative broadcasting for consciousness.” Already, questions are being raised about its programming slate plans. According to one leaked document, The Vibe—a tech-savvy variety program with a humanoid AI co-host, Grimes-curated musical guests, and weekly cryptocurrency giveaways—is being considered as a successor for The View.
In another tweet, Musk alluded to the future, saying, “We’re bringing back real talk—but from Mars.” Keep an eye out. #NotYourMothersABC #TheVibe
Musk’s most recent move, according to critics, is just another instance of the billionaire using his enormous wealth as a weapon by purchasing platforms to stifle dissenting opinions and dominate narratives. However, proponents regard it as a daring step against what they see to be hypocrisy in the mainstream media.
One X user said, “To be honest, I didn’t even watch The View.” But canceling it for the sake of making a meme? Elon, that’s peak.
Media experts are frantically trying to determine what all of this means for broadcasting in the future. “We’re entering a new era of media feudalism if billionaires can cancel shows due to personal insults,” stated Dr. Maria Huntley, a professor of media studies at Columbia University. “This is cancel capitalism, not just cancel culture.”
Elon Musk is unrepentant and unexpected as usual. In his last tweet that morning, he stated, “I can start a media empire too, just because I build rockets. 🚀📺.”
It remains to be seen if this is a moment of visionary greatness or the start of media pandemonium driven by billionaires. However, for the time being, Elon Musk is once again the dominant figure on the internet, Alec Baldwin is arrogant, and The View has vanished.