The $70 Million Hoax: Fact-Checking The Viral 'Elon Musk Sues The View' Lawsuit

The sensational claims that Elon Musk filed a massive $70 million (or $80 million, or even $1 billion) defamation lawsuit against the co-hosts of ABC's The View, specifically targeting Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, have recently resurfaced across social media platforms. As of today, December 17, 2025, a deep dive into court records and official statements reveals a definitive truth that cuts through the viral noise: the reported lawsuit is a complete fabrication.

The persistent rumor, which often suggests the show is facing cancellation over "misinformation," is a classic example of online clickbait and political satire being misinterpreted as fact. While a significant, heated controversy between the X (formerly Twitter) owner and the daytime talk show panel did occur, no actual legal action has been taken by Musk against the program or its long-time hosts. This article dissects the origins of the viral hoax and details the real-life media feud that sparked the widespread speculation.

The Definitive Fact-Check: Why the Lawsuit is a Hoax

The story of Elon Musk suing The View for tens of millions of dollars has been a recurring piece of misinformation, largely propagated through viral Facebook posts, YouTube videos with dramatic titles, and various satire websites. Independent fact-checkers, including PolitiFact, have repeatedly debunked these claims as false.

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The posts typically claim that Musk is suing for defamation, alleging that the co-hosts "lie about him." Despite the specific dollar amounts cited—ranging from $60 million to $80 million—there is no public record of a complaint filed by Elon Musk, his company Tesla, or his social media platform X against the show or any of its hosts in any federal or state court.

The True Spark: Joy Behar's "Pro-Apartheid" Comment

The intense public interest in a potential lawsuit stems from a very real and highly controversial on-air segment. The core of the issue revolves around a statement made by co-host Joy Behar regarding Musk's political and social views. Behar incorrectly stated that Musk was "pro-apartheid," a serious and inflammatory accusation that immediately drew outrage from conservative commentators and Musk's supporters.

This single comment became the catalyst for the viral "lawsuit" narrative, as many viewers felt the comment constituted defamation and warranted legal action. The controversy was further fueled by former The View host Meghan McCain, who expressed glee at the *idea* of Musk suing the show, encouraging him to "join DOGE" (a reference to Dogecoin and his online community) and pile on the pressure.

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• Alleged Plaintiff: Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X).
• Alleged Defendants: ABC's The View, Whoopi Goldberg, and Joy Behar.
• Alleged Cause: Defamation and spreading "misinformation."
• Actual Status: No lawsuit has been filed. The claims are false.

Elon Musk's History with Defamation and the Media

While the lawsuit against The View is fiction, Elon Musk has a genuine, well-documented history of both filing and being the target of high-profile defamation lawsuits, which likely contributes to the believability of the viral hoax. This pattern of legal disputes and public feuds with media figures and organizations is part of his public persona as a powerful, outspoken billionaire.

The Vernon Unsworth Case: A Key Precedent

The most famous defamation case involving Musk was the one filed *against* him by British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth. Unsworth sued Musk after the tech mogul publicly called him a "pedo guy" on X following a dispute over the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand. This case went to trial, resulting in a landmark verdict where a jury sided with Musk, finding that the statement did not constitute defamation.

This legal history shows that Musk is not afraid to engage in high-stakes legal battles, but it also demonstrates the high bar for proving defamation in the United States, especially for public figures. The Unsworth case is a crucial reference point when analyzing any alleged new lawsuit from the X owner.

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Ongoing Tension with Mainstream Media

Musk's acquisition of X and his subsequent debates over "free speech" and content moderation have placed him in constant opposition to many traditional media outlets. Co-hosts on The View, including Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro, have frequently used their platform to criticize Musk's business practices, his political leanings, and his handling of the platform X.

The panel has discussed everything from his alleged promotion of conspiracy theories to the security risks associated with his companies, creating a fertile ground for conflict. This ongoing tension is the real story—a persistent media feud between a powerful, controversial figure and a highly influential daytime television program—not a court case.

The Entities and LSI Keywords Driving the Controversy

The sustained interest in this false lawsuit is a testament to the power of combining high-profile entities with emotionally charged LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords. The following entities and concepts are central to the virality of the "Elon sues The View" narrative, providing topical authority:

Key Entities and Figures

• Elon Musk: The billionaire, CEO of Tesla, and owner of X.
• The View: The long-running ABC daytime talk show.
• Whoopi Goldberg: Oscar-winning actress and long-time co-host.
• Joy Behar: Comedian and outspoken liberal co-host.
• Meghan McCain: Former co-host who publicly supported the idea of a lawsuit.
• ABC News: The network that broadcasts The View.
• PolitiFact: The non-partisan fact-checking organization.

Relevant LSI Keywords and Concepts

• Defamation Lawsuit
• Misinformation and Disinformation
• Free Speech Debate
• Social Media Hoax
• Apartheid Accusation
• Viral Clickbait
• Media Feud
• X (formerly Twitter) Owner
• Tesla CEO
• Cancel Culture Claims
• High-Stakes Legal Battles

In conclusion, while the drama between Elon Musk and The View is real, the $70 million defamation lawsuit is a complete fiction. The truth is that the intense speculation is merely a reflection of the ongoing, high-profile media war between one of the world's most controversial billionaires and a panel of equally outspoken television personalities. Readers should always consult official court records and trusted fact-checking sources before accepting sensational online claims about major legal actions. The real story lies in the charged rhetoric and the battle for narrative control, not in the courtroom.