SHOCKING TURN: Sheryl Crow Dumps Tesla, Blasts Elon Musk, and Vows to Fund Independent Journalism “With Everything I’ve Got”
By Jane Mitchell – May 10, 2025
In a stunning and unusually direct public statement, music legend and activist Sheryl Crow has officially parted ways with Tesla, denouncing its CEO Elon Musk in a scathing critique and pledging her full financial support to independent journalism in what she describes as a “moral and civic duty.”
The nine-time Grammy Award winner made the announcement through a personal video shared on her verified Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, where she explained her motivations in emotional and resolute terms.
“I sold my Tesla this morning,” Crow began. “Not because I’m against innovation — far from it. But I can no longer, in good conscience, endorse a company led by someone who undermines democracy, attacks journalists, and treats truth like a disposable commodity.”
A Statement That Reverberates Beyond Music
Crow’s words cut sharply, not just as a celebrity opinion but as a signal flare in an ongoing culture war around power, media, and truth in the digital age. In the 8-minute video, she detailed her growing discomfort with Musk’s behavior — citing his online attacks on journalists, the spread of misinformation on his social media platform X, and what she called his “mockery of accountability.”
“This isn’t about politics,” Crow said. “It’s about the soul of our public discourse. When the richest man in the world uses his platform to bully truth-tellers and elevate conspiracy theorists, I can’t just keep driving his car and pretend that’s okay.”
Backing Her Words With Action
What truly shocked many wasn’t just her words — it was what followed.
Crow announced that she has liquidated her Tesla holdings and redirected that money, “every single dollar,” into nonprofit organizations that defend press freedom and investigative journalism. She highlighted institutions such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ProPublica, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and several local news networks facing funding shortfalls.
“Journalism is the immune system of democracy,” she said. “If we let it die, the sickness spreads unchecked.”
Crow has long been known for her activism — from environmental campaigns to gun control advocacy — but this move marks her most direct clash with a specific public figure to date. Fans flooded her comment sections with support, thanking her for using her platform to take a stand.
Reactions: Polarized and Passionate
Predictably, the backlash was swift from some quarters of the internet, particularly among Musk loyalists. Critics accused Crow of “virtue signaling,” while others suggested she was “misinformed” about Musk’s intentions and impact. Still, media scholars and many journalists applauded her gesture as rare and meaningful.
“We often talk about celebrity activism, but this is something different,” said Dr. Elena Ruiz, professor of media ethics at NYU. “Sheryl Crow didn’t just issue a tweet. She divested, redirected capital, and put a line in the sand. That’s cultural leadership.”
A Symbolic Car, a Symbolic Choice
Crow’s Tesla, which she says she bought during the company’s early years out of support for green technology, became for her a symbol of the conflict between innovation and integrity. Selling it, she explained, was a symbolic act — but one she hopes will inspire others to consider the impact of their consumer choices and the figures they support.
“We don’t get to be neutral anymore,” Crow said. “Not with this much on the line.”
Silence from Musk, So Far
As of this writing, neither Elon Musk nor Tesla has issued a public response. The story, however, has been picked up by major outlets, and conversations are erupting across social media. Some speculate that other celebrities may follow Crow’s lead, particularly in Hollywood, where tensions around Musk and his ownership of X remain high.
A Cultural Moment
Whether this moment marks a turning point or a media ripple remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Sheryl Crow’s decision has reignited conversations around money, media, and influence in an era where tech titans increasingly control the platforms that shape public opinion.
For now, Crow seems undeterred by the criticism.
“If telling the truth makes people uncomfortable,” she concluded in her video, “then maybe it’s time we sit with that discomfort — and start listening.”
