Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X and CEO of Tesla, has ignited a firestorm of criticism following a controversial comment about a teenager facing deportation from Denmark.
The Controversial Comment on X
The incident began when an X user named Jonatan Pallesen posted about the case of Audrey Morris, a high school student living in Los Angeles who was at risk of being deported from Denmark. Pallesen's post, dated around December 31, 2025, highlighted the perceived injustice, stating that Morris had lived in Denmark since childhood, was a model student, and had no criminal record, yet faced removal.
In a reply that has been widely condemned, Elon Musk, 54, interjected with a bizarre and inappropriate criterion for exemption. Musk wrote, “8 or above level hotness should get an exemption.” This remark, reducing the serious immigration issue to the teenager's physical appearance, was immediately slammed by many users on the platform.
Who is Audrey Morris?
Audrey Morris is a teenage student who was reportedly facing deportation from her adopted home of Denmark. According to the initial post by Jonatan Pallesen, she moved to Denmark as a child and has built her life there. Pallesen contrasted her case with what he described as Denmark's failure to deport “violently criminal third-worlders,” calling the system “nonsensical, harmful, and shameful.” The specific details of Morris's immigration status were not fully elaborated in the original post.
Backlash and Public Reaction
Musk's comment was swiftly labeled as inappropriate and offensive. Critics argued that it was demeaning to reduce a young woman's right to reside in a country to her looks, especially in a situation involving legal and human rights. The backlash underscores ongoing concerns about the influence and responsibility of high-profile figures on social media platforms when discussing sensitive personal and legal matters.
The story, originally reported by Linda Ikeji's blog, has added another layer to the complex public persona of Elon Musk, who frequently uses his X platform to comment on global events, often stirring controversy.
This episode raises questions about the boundaries of public discourse and the impact of casual, flippant remarks from powerful individuals on serious issues affecting people's lives.
