Bill Burr clashes with reporters over Elon Musk questions at Kennedy Center event
During a red carpet appearance at a Kennedy Center tribute for Conan O'Brien on March 23, comedian Bill Burr became visibly frustrated when reporters shifted focus from the event to political questions about Elon Musk and other hot-button topics.
According to Fox News, Burr was approached by journalist Nicholas Ballasy and asked about recent comments he made on The View criticizing Musk. Burr dismissed the question, saying, 'I don't watch the news,' and added, 'I watch Instagram. I watch people wipe out on motorcycles. I watch lions and hyenas fight each other.'
When Ballasy argued that comedians are expected to stay on top of current events, Burr pushed back. 'That's weak,' he said. 'That's you guys passing the buck. You need to get your balls back. It's not my job. I'm a dancing clown.'
On The View, Burr had joked that Musk's focus on space travel was a sign that billionaires were preparing to abandon Earth after ruining it, leaving regular people behind in political confusion.
The conversation soon turned to another sensitive topic—Luigi Mangione, who has been accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. One reporter suggested Burr had shown support for Mangione, which Burr denied. 'I said what I felt, and it's what a lot of people said,' he replied.
Pressed to clarify, Burr shut it down: 'No. I'm not going to just have some controversial moment so you can get clicks. I'm here for Conan.'
In a January interview with Variety, Burr reflected on the CEO's murder, saying it was 'fun to see [executives] worry' and experience pressure, likening it to the way corporations treat the public.
While Burr insists he's 'not qualified' to weigh in on major news, his blunt responses continue to stir conversations across both comedy and media circles.
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