Elon Musk claimed he was appointed Disney’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, sparking widespread speculation of an April Fool’s joke.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed enthusiasm about making Disney’s content “more woke” in collaboration with Bob Iger and Kathleen Kennedy. The absence of a company response and the timing of Musk’s announcement led many to dismiss it as a prank.
The post quickly went viral, drawing millions of views and diverse reactions. Some social media users teased Musk’s potential new role as “Chief Woke Officer,” while others pointed out the date, suggesting it was merely a jest. Remarks ranged from humorous endorsements of the idea to scepticism about its impact on traditional April Fool’s Day celebrations and Disney’s Star Wars franchise.
This development followed Musk’s previous confrontations with Disney, notably demanding the dismissal of CEO Bob Iger after Disney withdrew ads from X in December, as reported by CNN. Musk criticized Iger’s management, invoking Walt Disney’s legacy.
Moreover, Musk supported Gina Carano, a former “The Mandalorian” actress, in her lawsuit against Disney for wrongful termination and alleged sex discrimination, offering to fund legal battles for users retaliating against employer sanctions related to social media comments.