Sheryl Crow Says ‘So Long Tesla’ and Dumps Her Car in Reaction to ‘President Musk,’ Donating Proceeds to NPR
Sheryl Crow had once been a proud Tesla owner, even interfacing with Elon Musk on social media about her car. But whatever support the environmentally minded singer formerly had for the EVs has been superseded by her alarm at the rightward political turn taken by the man she now calls “President Musk,” and so she is saying: “So long Tesla.”
In a video posted to Instagram, Crow stands on the street as her Tesla is towed away. The caption says that she has sold the car and donated the money to NPR, “which is under threat by President Musk.”
Her statement begins: “My parents always said… you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.”
Tech and Media Stocks Hammered Amid Global Instability and Ratcheting Tariff Fights
Crow is part of a wave of liberally minded Tesla owners who have decided they can no longer drive cars so closely associated with the world’s richest man, now that he has been set up by President Donald Trump as seemingly his closest advisor. Earlier this week, Musk — who, as head of the unofficial government agency DOGE, is taking the lead on eliminating thousands of federal government jobs and cutting back agencies and services — stood literally as Trump’s right-hand man in a headline-making Oval Office news conference where he, not the president, did most of the talking.
Popular on Variety
Crow’s social media message continued: “Money donated to @npr, which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth.”
The singer’s message closed out by adding hashtags for #PresidentMusk as well as #PresidentTrump and #ProtectTheConstitution, plus the suggestion to call 202-224-3141, the switchboard for the U.S. Capitol.
It was a far cry from five years ago, when Crow retweeted Musk as he offered a solution for a problem she had tweeted out about the screen on her Tesla going black.
The immediate responses to Crow’s Tesla-farewell message fell along predictable lines, with many applauding her for the move, and some conservatives — who have long ridiculed the singer for her progressive stances — finding a fresh reason to slam her activism.
Some of Crow’s fellow Nashvillians were particularly supportive. Kacey Musgraves left no less than two messages of support for the artist she considers royalty, calling her both “Sheryl Queen” and “Sheryl CrowN.” Wrote Margo Price: “Love to see it.” And Alyssa Milano left an emoticon face with hearts in its eyes.
Among responses from the right, Instagram users posted messages like: “You realize Musk already got the money for that one right? If you like the car, you only hurt yourself.” … “So you support wasteful government spending, money that could’ve gone to support our veterans. Got it.” … “I so love it when wealthy liberals that tell the struggling rest of us how morally justified it is that the government must continue to waste our tax money.” … “You loved Elon when he donated to Dems. Now that he’s uncovering fraud and waste on a grand scale that is mind-boggling, you’re all full of virtue signaling. Oh, we’re so impressed.”
Some even claimed they were fine with her until this last straw, unlikely as that might be given her long history of taking positions on the environment, gun control and other issues. “Life long fan unfollowing your stupid liberal ass!” wrote one.
Crow was most recently seen as part of the all-star band opening the Grammys with a song in support of fire relief aid for Los Angeles. Her most recent album, “Evolution,” was released last year. In 2023, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
