'What Is Wrong With Musk's Body?': Elon Musk Draws Gru Comparisons and Ignites Body-Shaming Row During Louisiana Visit

Elon Musk has drawn Gru comparisons after footage of his recent visit to a Louisiana spaceport site prompted comments about his physique and accusations of body-shaming.

The images show Musk at a marsh site in Vermilion Parish linked to a planned SpaceX spaceport. Users compared the pictures with older photographs, while supporters challenged suggestions that his appearance showed something was wrong with him.

Elon Musk's Appearance Draws Scrutiny

The planned site is intended to become the world's largest spaceport, with construction scheduled for 2027. Firstpost's coverage set the reaction against Musk's ambitions for Mars, reporting that his body shape had become the subject of memes.

Those comparisons included Gru, the fictional character named in posts about Musk's physique. The discussion extended beyond visual similarities, with some users proposing medical explanations and others objecting to the scrutiny itself.

One X user, @sarrah_bellus, wrote, 'What is wrong with Musk's body? These images captured from the video of his recent visit to the spaceport site in Louisiana.'

Presenter Hem Saroya covered the reaction for the programme, describing an online debate that turned images from the spaceport visit into memes about Musk's physique.

Another user, @davegreenidge57, made an unverified claim, writing, 'He's taken so much testosterone that it's caused an estrogen deficiency.'

The quoted post offered no evidence that Musk had taken testosterone or had an oestrogen deficiency. Aromatase deficiency also featured in the reported speculation, but no clinical findings were cited to substantiate that suggestion. No treating clinician was quoted supporting either proposed explanation for his appearance.

Supporters Defend Elon Musk

The defence of Musk was focused on his appearance, with one supporter praising his weight loss and referring to physical difficulties. The response framed the criticism as body-shaming, while also making claims about his health.

X user @Natism wrote, 'Elon looks absolutely gorgeous and there is NOTHING wrong with his body. This is body shaming and it is disgusting! He's 55, and has recently lost a lot of weight, despite having had multiple neck/back surgeries, and is often in chronic pain. I for one am very proud of him. With a pfp that looks like a 60 yr old dyke I wouldn't talk.'

That reply also attacked another person's profile picture, ending with a slur. Its assertions about surgeries and chronic pain were not accompanied by medical records in the coverage.

Musk has not publicly linked his appearance in the Louisiana footage to a medical condition or addressed the hormone speculation. Claims that there was nothing wrong with his body, including the supporter's emphatic defence, were also assertions, rather than findings attributed to a clinician. Neither account included an independent medical assessment.

The account of the reaction referred separately to Musk's reported past use of Mounjaro and fasting for weight loss. Those references did not establish why he looked different in the images being compared, or verify the hormone claims circulating alongside them.

Former US representative Adam Kinzinger shared screenshots with a shorter response, writing simply 'Hmm'. He offered no explanation of what he meant.

The available coverage included no response from Musk or SpaceX to the body-shaming accusations or the specific claims about his health.