The internet exploded this week after tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk unleashed one of his signature blunt takedowns on actor Justice Smith, labeling him a “pick me boy” in a post that quickly went viral. The seven-word zinger—”HE’S A PICK ME BOY”—reportedly left Smith silent in the media for hours, amplifying an already heated online debate about identity, labels, fashion, and celebrity accountability in the age of social media.
The controversy traces back to Justice Smith, the 30-year-old star known for roles in The Get Down, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Detective Pikachu, and more recently I Saw the TV Glow. Smith has long navigated public discussions about his sexuality with nuance, often rejecting rigid categories.
In a recent appearance on the TikTok series Gaydar, hosted by drag queen and actor Anania, Smith made headlines by stating plainly: “I don’t allow straight people to call me gay.” He elaborated that straight individuals often operate with a “limited definition” of what “gay” means, citing scenarios where mentioning an ex-girlfriend leads to confusion or accusations of inconsistency. “You’re boring, and you’re basic,” he quipped to those who insist on binary labels.
Smith has described his attraction as oriented toward men in recent years, yet he gravitates toward terms like “queer” or “fluid.” He argues that sexuality encompasses energy, masculinity, personal evolution, and emotional depth—not just a checkbox. “Sexuality isn’t a box,” he has said in interviews, pushing back against what he sees as outdated norms that demand clear, immutable declarations.
This stance, while praised by some for challenging heteronormative assumptions and embracing complexity, drew sharp criticism from others. Detractors online accused Smith of “picking and choosing” labels for convenience, suggesting that exclusively dating men aligns squarely with being gay, and that avoiding the term might stem from internalized stigma or a desire to maintain broader marketability in Hollywood. Memes and threads proliferated, mocking his fashion choices—often colorful, expressive, and gender-fluid outfits on red carpets and casual outings—as “signaling” gay identity while he publicly disavowed the label when applied by others.
Enter Elon Musk. Known for his unfiltered commentary on X (formerly Twitter), Musk weighed in amid the escalating discourse. According to circulating screenshots and reposts, Musk responded to a thread highlighting Smith’s complaints about fans and media labeling him gay despite his style and dating history.
Musk’s retort was characteristically terse: “HE’S A PICK ME BOY.” The phrase “pick me boy” (a gendered twist on the viral “pick me girl” meme) refers to someone perceived as desperately seeking validation from a group—here, allegedly straight audiences or mainstream appeal—by downplaying or rejecting associations with queerness while still presenting in ways that invite those very assumptions.
The post spread like wildfire. Supporters of Musk hailed it as a perfect distillation of perceived hypocrisy: Smith allegedly wants the aesthetic benefits of queer culture (expressive clothing, fluid presentation) without fully embracing the label when it suits criticism or fan interactions. Critics of Musk, meanwhile, decried it as yet another billionaire punching down at a Black queer artist over personal identity matters.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports suggested Smith had previously voiced frustration about fans and online users speculating or labeling his sexuality without his consent. Some claimed he had explored legal options against persistent harassers or defamatory posts, only to be reminded—or to acknowledge—that suing random internet users for opinions or mislabeling is largely impractical in the U.S. due to free speech protections, high evidentiary bars for defamation, and the anonymity of many online actors.
Musk’s alleged follow-up commentary reinforced this: attempting mass lawsuits against fans or commenters would be futile and likely backfire, turning the actor into an even bigger target for memes and backlash.
For hours after Musk’s post, Smith appeared to go quiet across platforms—no rebuttals, no clarifications, no fiery threads. Media outlets monitoring his accounts noted the radio silence, with some speculating it was strategic: engaging would only amplify the drama. Others saw it as a moment of genuine impact, where Musk’s cultural clout and platform ownership gave his words outsized reach and sting.
The incident highlights broader tensions in 2025–2026 celebrity culture. In an era where stars are expected to be authentic yet marketable, identity politics intersect with fashion, fan entitlement, and billionaire commentary. Smith’s refusal to be boxed in resonates with a generation that views sexuality as spectrums rather than binaries. Yet the “pick me” accusation taps into ongoing conversations about authenticity—whether public figures can curate their image selectively without inviting scrutiny.
Musk, no stranger to controversy himself, has built a reputation for rapid-fire judgments on everything from politics to pop culture. His intervention here feels personal yet emblematic: a powerful straight man (or at least presenting as such) commenting on a queer-identifying actor’s self-definition. Whether Musk’s words were a fair call-out or an unnecessary escalation remains debated. What’s undeniable is their viral power—seven words that dominated timelines, sparked think pieces, and briefly muted one of Hollywood’s rising voices.
As the dust settles, the episode serves as a case study in modern discourse: how quickly a celebrity’s nuanced stance on identity can be reduced to meme fodder, how platform owners can shape narratives with minimal effort, and how labels—whether embraced, rejected, or weaponized—continue to ignite fierce online battles. Justice Smith may eventually respond, reframing the conversation on his terms. Until then, Elon Musk’s blunt assessment lingers as the mic-drop moment that, for now, has the last say.
