Elon Musk slams Trevor Noah for controversial joke about Charlie Kirk

Emmy award-winning comedian Trevor Noah has found himself in the crosshairs of billionaire Elon Musk after making jokes about the assassination of American political activist Charlie Kirk.

The short video clip from the show that was recorded at the famous Comedy Cellar in New York quickly gained traction on social media.

During his set, Noah teased the audience by suggesting that comedians in the US are too afraid to touch on Kirk's death.

"Here (USA) comedians are sh***** themselves. 'Don't say anything about Charlie Kirk'. I wasn't going to say anything. 'Yeah, but don't say anything'. I wasn't going to say anything. 'But don't, there's nothing funny about it'. Now you've tested me, I mean, there's nothing funny about it?

"You can't say there's nothing funny about it. As a comedian, I'm sure there's something funny about it. The guy was shot while defending guns. I'm not even writing that as a joke. As a human, you have to admit that it is an incongruous, funny thing that happened. 

"You were there on stage, and you were like, 'Let me tell you why people should have guns, paaw paah!" said Noah. 

The clip did not sit well with everyone, especially Musk, who took to his social media platform X to express his frustration.

Musk fired back in a post: "Trevor was lauded for being a libtard cuck for so long that he hasn’t realised that he stopped being funny. The guy actually has talent, but needs to get the woke virus out of his brain."

The term "woke virus" has become a popular phrase amongst critics of those who lean towards progressive social views.

As with any viral content, responses poured in.

Musk's supporters agreed with his viewpoint, while Noah's defenders rushed to his aid.

@JoyfulAICreate commented: "The woke virus takes the good potential away from so many."

@Prasad_C_ wrote: "This video was ironically funny... it doesn't mean I support any kind of life-harming threats or actions. But situationally, his comment was guarded and funny."

@dollydeleon said: "This woke comedian comic plot is deceptive, misdirected and can only draw an audience whose mind and character laugh at the mirth of an idiot and whose joke can cause fury to the audience such as us. Fortunately, many, including me, don't know who this clown is." 

This is not the first time the two are at loggerheads.

Earlier this year, Noah took a swipe at Musk in his podcast, "What Now?"

Noah raised questions about the tech billionaire, his business tactics, and even questioned whether he is a con artist.

The "Born a Crime" author said that he has heard from the rumour mill that Musk has a specific way of operating to attain his goal.

"He is supremely talented at finding the right lever to pull, and he will pull it. To start businesses that break things and don't follow the rules, what do you need? You need people who make the rules to lose power."

To do this, Noah claimed that Musk meticulously finds people who are not happy with the laws.

"You find people with the most hate fermenting, you encourage that, you grow and nestle it. These guys are essentially investing in disruptors across the world," he added.