Elon Musk Scene in Big Bang Theory Aged So Bad, It's Embarrassing

Even now in 2023, 16 years after its debut, The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off Young Sheldon are the top two streamed television shows, with over 100 million combined views in July 2023 alone. With its clever humor, engaging performances, and larger-than-life characters, it seems as though it can do no wrong in the eyes of its beloved fans.

However, even the most ardent of those fans have called out the show for some poor choices of storylines, particularly in its treatment of some cameo actors and how they are written into the show. Amidst these, is one glaring instance that still stands out from Season 9. You've guessed it - season 9 episode 9: The Platonic Permutation, a scene that has aged so badly, it's embarrassing to see now.

Cringe incarnate

In this episode, hilarious fan-favorite Howard Wolowitz, crosses paths with his SpaceX CEO idol while volunteering at a soup kitchen. Although Musk was portrayed as a saintly figure in this episode, the fans saw through the poor acting and loud laugh track, believing he likely paid for the cameo in order to try and perpetuate a kind and caring persona.

Back in 2015, when the episode aired, Musk's reputation was at its peak. He was viewed as the golden boy of entrepreneurship and hailed worldwide for his innovative charm. As the years progressed, Musk's image has been tarnished, with critics labeling him as another power-hungry billionaire and this shift in perception has led to a growing distaste for Musk's cameo on The Big Bang Theory. as he has proved himself to be anything but kind and caring.

One fan took to reddit to remind us how previous to the episode airing, Musk tweeted a challenge regarding helping the hungry:

'Remember when Elon musk said that if someone could prove how his money could end world hunger he'd give it all away and then someone did and he's still sitting on his stolen wealth like a boring dragon? Cuz I remember.'

Perhaps this proves that Musk opted to act the role of helping the needy, rather than actually doing so. Other fans have suggested a more palatable alternative – if Howard had been sent to work at SpaceX for a few days and had met Musk there, the whole scenario would have felt more genuine, allowing Howard to talk with his hero without making the whole setup feel forced and unrealistic.

Still a good show

Despite the backlash, The Big Bang Theory continues to be a well adored sitcom, with a dedicated fanbase that still binge-watches the show over and over again. Elon Musk's controversial cameo will undoubtedly remain a stain on the show's reputation, but hopefully it will serve as a reminder that inserting real-life figures into fiction can sometimes backfire, especially when the future reputation of those figures can change completely in the years to come.

Source: Reddit.