FACT CHECK: Did Sunny Hostin Really Call Elon Musk a “Bastard” on The View?
CLAIM: Sunny Hostin called Elon Musk a “bastard” on The View, prompting a live apology from Joy Behar.
VERDICT: ❌ False. No verified evidence supports this claim.
The Story That Sparked It:
A flurry of posts recently circulated online claiming that The View co-host Sunny Hostin lashed out at Elon Musk on air, allegedly calling him a “bastard.” Some versions of the story claimed this triggered a stunned reaction from the studio and an immediate apology from fellow host Joy Behar.
But despite the viral nature of the claim, no credible news outlet has reported on such an incident. There is also no video footage or transcript confirming that such a moment occurred during a live broadcast of The View.
What Really Happened:
Sunny Hostin has been vocally critical of both Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the past. Following Trump’s return to the White House and Musk’s appointment as the head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Hostin:
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Publicly stated she would no longer buy a Tesla or invest in Tesla stock
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Deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account, citing Musk’s leadership as a major reason
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Referred to Twitter under Musk as a “hellscape” and criticized the platform’s rebrand to “X,” calling the name “stupid”
However, none of her public comments—on The View or elsewhere—have included the slur reported in the rumor.
The Truth Behind the Viral Rumor:
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The alleged quote appears only on unverified websites and social media pages, not on mainstream news platforms.
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No clip or transcript from The View confirms the use of the word “bastard” in reference to Elon Musk.
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Joy Behar has not issued any apology to Musk, nor has the show released a statement about the alleged incident.
Conclusion:
While Sunny Hostin has strongly criticized Elon Musk’s policies and leadership style, the viral claim that she insulted him with profanity on The View is unsubstantiated and false. Always cross-reference with reliable sources before sharing potentially inflammatory information.