Elon Musk to host Saturday Night Live, with Miley Cyrus as musical guest

Saturday Night Live has announced Elon Musk will guest host an episode of the show. Photo / Getty Images

Tesla and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk will host the May 8 episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL), it has been announced.

The technology mogul, who has an estimated fortune of $177 billion, is a controversial choice of host, and some have slammed the show for "not learning" from past controversies.

🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/WyTGhSsSVg

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 24, 2021

Deadline.com calls it a "left-field choice for a sketch comedy show" but points out that, unlike other corporate types, Musk has shown "a quick wit in his online dealings with fans, foes and the like, so may have a few more surprises in store".

"I am really beyond disappointed in SNL," wote Variety editor Jenelle Riley.

"They've learned nothing. A host should have some discernible talent other than … being rich? Or at least not be someone who lies about a takeover, spreads misinformation about a pandemic, and is known for abusing employees."

Every SNL fan has a different take on the show but I think the one thing we can ALL truly agree on is that having Elon Musk host the show is one of the most absolute dumbest f**king things they’ve ever done.

— That Week In SNL (@ThatWeekInSNL) April 24, 2021

Caught a glimpse of Elon Musk’s working draft for SNL pic.twitter.com/RZPlvD1KUZ

— Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) April 24, 2021

One of the cool things about Elon Musk hosting SNL is that it just saved me from wasting an hour of my time on May 8th

— connectpoliticditto. (@cpoliticditto) April 24, 2021

lorne michael’s after picking elon musk to host SNL pic.twitter.com/52UgpBtbCo

— Sean Yoo (@SeanYoo) April 24, 2021

The show previously had Donald Trump as a host of one of its episodes. That choice drew controversy at the time, two months before the start of the former president's primary campaign.

At the time, SNL was accused of making space for Trump's campaign rhetoric, which many pointed out was dangerous.

Elon Musk hosting SNL is the most reckless casting decision they’ve made since Donald Trump.

— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) April 24, 2021

This is not the first time the Tesla billionaire makes it onto the small (or even the big) screen.

Musk has previously appeared on The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory and had a cameo in Iron Man 2.

Miley Cyrus will be the musical guest on the May 8 episode hosted by Musk.