The critic in Elon Musk has dissected Amazon Prime Video’s Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, reigniting his longstanding rivalry with Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos.
The first two episodes of The Rings Of Power debuted on September 2 on Prime Video, based on Middle-earth’s Second Age, taking place thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and LOTR. And it seems Musk did not like what he saw.
On Sunday, the Tesla CEO and founder tweeted, “Tolkien is turning in his grave. Almost every male character so far is a coward, a jerk, or both. Only Galadriel is brave, smart, and nice.”
Looks like Musk has joined the Internet bandwagon that is massively disappointed with The Rings Of Power and finds it too woke. The SpaceX founder previously said, “The woke mind virus is making Netflix unwatchable.”
Or is he simply taking yet another potshot at his rival, Jeff Bezos?
The two tycoons have taken plenty of jibes at each other on social media and beyond over the years. So, it is not surprising to see Musk be so critical of Amazon’s The Rings Of Power.
Meanwhile, responding to Musk’s criticism, noted fantasy writer Neil Gaiman tweeted, “Elon Musk doesn’t come to me for advice on how to fail to buy Twitter, and I don’t go to him for film, TV, or literature criticism.”
Gaiman developed and is executive producing Netflix’s popular series adaptation of his DC comic book series The Sandman.
Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel in the high-profile series, previously defended her interpretation of the character and said, “I would say that her serenity is hard-earned. I don’t think you get to that level of wisdom without going through things. She actually speaks about how with wisdom, there is a loss of innocence, which was a really good thing for me to find in the lore. Because, like, how young are you when you’re still thousands of years old? So, it was thinking of what innocence she lost during this time.”
Regardless of Musk’s views, The Rings Of Power has turned out to be an instant success for Prime Video as it drew more than 25 million viewers on its first day.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.