Elon Musk’s mother Maye Musk has sparked controversy on X after posting a tweet about a homeless person. The author and model, currently based in New York, faced backlash, with some even telling her to “go back to Africa.”

Maye, along with her three children, spent their early years in South Africa before relocating abroad. Her ex-husband and businessman Errol Musk, continues to live in the country.

On her X account, Maye Musk tweeted a photo of a homeless person sitting on the side of the road, alongside a comment lamenting the litter scattered across the street.

Maye – the mother of X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk – tweeted: “Early morning walk in downtown New York. Keeping my dog on a tight leash. It didn’t used to be this way. It started the last two years. Why?”



In the comments section, Maye’s post was harshly condemned by X users who felt the woman lacked empathy and compassion.

@FedericoGalavis: “That’s a human being in need on the ground. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

@MissJilianne: “New York has always had homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks. What planet have you been on?”

@Kissmyazz24: “How dare the homeless intrude on the rich lady’s walk?”

@MarloVanMarck: “Oh no! Did unmet health care needs and chronic deep poverty look in your direction? Poor thing”

@alizabethmari: “You literally have the ability to help them.”

@JFC_already: “Immigrant complaining about. Checks notes… Immigrants”

Give them some money. Your son is the richest man in the world. But you just take a picture of them to post on here?

— ░B░O░O░K░S░░I░N░░B░I░O░ (@urmumsawhre) September 10, 2024

Some even told Maye – who is fluent in Afrikaans – to return to the African continent, where her son Elon Musk was born.

@AlTheBoss03: “I hear Pretoria is nice this time of year”

@GeffeJr: “Can always move back to South Africa!”.

NY has always had homeless problems, don't like it, go back to Africa.

— Collin Krapp 🌊🏳️🌈 (@RealTrollFeeder) September 10, 2024

Is Maye Musk South African?

Though Maye Musk lived in South Africa for many years, she was born in Canada and moved to Pretoria with her family when she was just two years old.

In 1969, she was a finalist in the Miss South Africa competition. The following year, she married Errol Musk, with whom she had three children: Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca.

Maye

After their divorce in 1979, Elon Musk moved in with his father while his mother, Maye, settled in Bloemfontein. At 18, Elon emigrated to Canada, and a few years later, his mother and siblings joined him.

The Musk family eventually relocated to the U.S., where they have since become permanent residents.