Dana Carvey’s knack for impressions remains legendary, but even the comedy veteran admits that Elon Musk presents a unique challenge. On a recent episode of his podcast Superfly, co-hosted with David Spade, Carvey opened up about the difficulties of mimicking the tech billionaire.
“I can’t do Elon Musk very well,” Carvey confessed, laughing. “He has an incredible accent — South Africa via Canada, via Pennsylvania. It’s almost like there’s a bit of Australian, a little British, but not fully that.”
Despite his self-criticism, Carvey took a shot at impersonating Musk during a recent episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). The skit, however, didn’t land well with Musk himself. The billionaire, known for his unfiltered opinions on social media, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure.
“SNL has been dying slowly for years, as they become increasingly out of touch with reality,” Musk wrote on Nov. 10, following the broadcast. Musk’s post referenced not just the impersonation but the overall content of the show, which included a sketch where the cast jokingly appealed to President-elect Trump after his recent electoral victory.
Carvey, an Emmy-winning SNL alum from 1986 to 1993, is no stranger to public reactions, whether they be critical or celebratory. Over his career, he has gained widespread acclaim for impressions of public figures like President Joe Biden and former President George H.W. Bush. Despite the criticism surrounding his Musk impersonation, Carvey is set to return to SNL in December — a move likely to bring more comedic takes on pop culture and politics.
For now, though, Carvey seems to be embracing the challenge of impersonating one of the most enigmatic figures of the modern age. Whether audiences agree or not, his dedication to comedy continues to shine.
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