Elon Musk weighed in on the 2026 Academy Awards just hours after the ceremony wrapped up at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, calling the Oscars “unwatchable” in a post on X. The Tesla and SpaceX chief was responding to a viral post by Fox News host Jimmy Failla that joked about The Godfather not qualifying for a Best Picture nomination under the Academy’s current diversity and inclusion standards.
Failla’s post, which racked up over 22 million views, quipped that the Francis Ford Coppola classic would need the Don to “transition to the Godmother” and the baker to “support gay marriage” to be eligible today. Musk’s three-word verdict landed on top of that, amplifying the debate to his massive X following.
Musk has a history of calling the Oscars a ‘woke contest’
This isn’t the first time Musk has taken aim at Hollywood’s biggest night. Back in March 2024, as the 96th Academy Awards kicked off, he posted that “winning an Oscar now just means you won the woke contest. ” He followed that up by saying the award had been “diluted” and “no longer commands respect. ” Then in early March 2025, he called the Academy’s representation and inclusion standards for Best Picture eligibility “messed up,” arguing nominations should be about “who is best, not best with an asterisk. “
Academy’s inclusion rules require films to meet 2 of 4 diversity standards
The Academy introduced its representation and inclusion standards in 2020, fully enforcing them from the 2024 ceremony onward. Films vying for Best Picture must meet at least two of four broad criteria covering on-screen representation, creative leadership, industry access, and audience development. The rules don’t mandate changes to a film’s story or cast—crew diversity and marketing outreach can also satisfy the requirements.
Musk’s latest remarks arrived on a night when Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the 98th Academy Awards with six wins, including Best Picture and Best Director.
