Elon Musk Addresses Top Gear Lawsuit on Joe Rogan Podcast After Jeremy Clarkson’s Remarks!
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been embroiled in a long standing feud with Jeremy Clarkson, the iconic British TV presenter. Their rivalry began more than a decade ago, when Clarkson and his Top Gear team reviewed Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster. The review sparked controversy, which ultimately led to Elon Musk accusing Clarkson of faking a breakdown of the car to entertain viewers.
The Controversial Top Gear Review
In 2008, Top Gear showcased the Tesla Roadster, Elon Musk’s ambitious electric vehicle. Clarkson’s initial review seemed positive, highlighting the car’s speed, torque, and the savings from using electric fuel. However, things took a turn when Clarkson claimed that the car could only travel 55 miles on a charge far less than the promised 200 miles. The segment even showed the car appearing to break down and being pushed off the track, with Clarkson complaining about long charging times.
Elon Musk’s team, however, claims the car never actually broke down. In fact, Musk later revealed in a podcast that an engineer sent to deliver the car had noticed a script on the table for the Top Gear review. According to Musk, this suggested the car was intentionally going to be portrayed as faulty, even though it wasn’t.
Musk’s Legal Battle
Furious with the damage to Tesla’s reputation, Musk sued Clarkson and the BBC for defamation, claiming the faked breakdown unfairly harmed his company. Despite Musk’s anger, the court sided with the BBC, ruling that Tesla had weathered the storm of one negative review. The judge dismissed Musk’s claims, stating that the case for damages was weak.
Musk, however, continued to insist that the incident was unfair and that Clarkson’s review was biased against electric cars. Despite losing the case, the feud has lingered for years, often reignited by Musk’s comments in interviews or on social media.
Clarkson’s Recent Victory
Fast forward to 2025, and the feud is still alive. After Tesla’s stock took a hit amid recent controversies, Clarkson finally declared “victory” in his column for The Times. Clarkson poked fun at Musk, reiterating his original criticisms of the Tesla Roadster, including its unreliability, high cost, and poor handling. In his column, Clarkson also reflected on Musk’s lasting bitterness over the case and the legal battle.
The Enduring Rivalry
While both men have moved on with their careers—Musk dominating the electric vehicle market and Clarkson continuing his media presence—this bitter rivalry shows no sign of disappearing anytime soon. For Musk, the battle with Clarkson remains a painful reminder of his early struggles in the electric car industry, and for Clarkson, it seems like the saga is far from over.
