Bill Burr, known for his wit and sharp humor, recently graced The Tonight Show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. The motive of his appearance was promoting his imminent Broadway act in Glengarry Glen Ross and his new stand-up comedy special, Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when the discussion landed on Elon Musk, the tech magnate who seems to provoke a strong reaction in Burr.
Burr is an experienced comedian making his first foray into Broadway. His role in the iconic David Mamet’s play as Dave Moss is highly anticipated, as was his conversation about the new stand-up special with Fallon. Nevertheless, the conversation moved over to Musk, a topic Burr seemed eager to delve into.
Burr expressed an uncensored view of Musk, starting with a quip about his wardrobe choice. In Burr’s words, ‘Why does Elon Musk outfit himself as if he just emerged from a Hot Topic?’. The statement brought a wave of laughter from the audience, showcasing Burr’s comedic timing as well as revealing his stance on Musk.
Burr didn’t stop at the critique of Musk’s clothing choice; he had a fair share of opinions about Musk’s public persona too. He expressed annoyance with the SpaceX CEO’s attempts to revamp his backstory. Burr likened Musk’s story adjustments to a scene straight out of a Matthew McConaughey high school appearance, hilariously critiquing the incongruity between Musk’s past and the image he portrays now.
‘He was once an outcast with nobody interested,’ Burr proclaimed, alluding to Musk’s teenage years. ‘Now he showcases himself with a fresh set of hair and a polished appearance,’ added Burr, making light of Musk’s transformed look. But Musk wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of Burr’s candid humor.
Burr broadened his critique to encompass Musk’s fellow tech billionaires, not keeping his baffled attitude toward them concealed. He expressed his befuddlement at people’s reverence for these ‘nerds’ – a category in which he firmly places Musk. Notably, his incredulousness took a retrospective turn, referring back to his own life experiences.
Burr recollected the times when attention from feminists was centered on frat boys and men with backward caps. Interestingly, he pointed out that ‘geeks’ were left largely untouched by such scrutiny, which resonated with the audience, evoking a thoughtful reaction. According to him, overlooked ‘nerds’ triumphed by seizing control of impactful circumstances.
Citing the current state of affairs, Burr fired off a few examples: people resorting to adult-sized diapers for long-haul vehicle drives just to meet deadlocks, for instance. He didn’t shy away from attributing such circumstances to today’s top billionaires directly, characterizing them as cold-hearted individuals for enforcing such inhumane conditions on people.
Unafraid of backlash, Burr outlined his argument, making it clear that labeling these tech moguls as ‘horrible, heartless people’ had consequences. He took a jibe at the current societal climate, suggesting that voicing such ideas might make him sound like a communist or a secret ally of the Russians, his tone dripping with irony.
The stand-up comedian confessed to not comprehending why expressing his viewpoints about these billionaires resulted in incendiary labels. At the same time, he questioned why these moguls, seemingly untouched by criticism, continue to leverage their wealth without any consideration for their employees’ well-being.
Furthermore, Burr pointed out the unnecessary politicization of everything he says. ‘It seems like any critique is perceived as a political statement these days,’ he observed. ‘But isn’t the real issue about how you treat your employees?’ His musings left the audience with something to ponder, deeply touched by his incisive humor and thought-provoking critique.