In a shocking (but not entirely surprising) lawsuit, Richard Gere has filed a $100 million lawsuit against Elon Musk. The lawsuit stems from a public feud between the two men that reportedly led to Gere losing major contracts and being forced to leave the United States.
“Mr. Musk’s actions have caused me irreparable harm,” Gere said in a statement. “I have no choice but to pursue legal action.”
According to the lawsuit, Gere claims that Musk made “defamatory” and “false” comments about him on social media. Gere also alleges that Musk used his influence to pressure entertainment companies to drop his contracts.
“Mr. Musk has abused his power and wealth to attack me,” Gere said. “I will not allow him to get away with this.”
Reactions on social media have been mixed. Some praised Gere for “standing up to a bully,” while others criticized him for “frivolous litigation.”
“Richard Gere should focus on acting instead of litigation,” wrote one Twitter user.
“I agree with Richard Gere,” wrote another. “Elon Musk is a bully.”
It’s unclear whether Gere’s lawsuit will be successful. But it has certainly sparked a heated debate about free speech and the responsibility of celebrities on social media.
And in a related development, Musk also tweeted that he is “looking into his own legal options.” “Richard Gere should prepare for a big legal battle,” Musk warned.
We’ll continue to follow this story and update you as more information becomes available.
