A young Somali content creator on TikTok has found herself at the centre of a global firestorm after a short clip from her live stream was interpreted as a death threat against billionaire Elon Musk. Fardowsa Muhumed says her life has been upended by the controversy and she now fears for her safety and future.
A Viral Clip and a Life Turned Upside Down
The incident traces back to December 31, 2025, a date Muhumed says marked a tragic turn in her life. During a live stream where she was reacting to photos of Elon Musk in swimwear, she made a comment in English: "I wouldn’t worry too much about him. He about to die." While she was speaking mostly in Somali throughout the stream, this final remark, isolated from its full context, quickly went viral.
Conservative social media accounts, notably Libs of TikTok, amplified the clip, suggesting the FBI should investigate. The situation escalated dramatically when Elon Musk himself responded on his platform, X, with a terse statement: "Then it is war." Muhumed says this reaction from one of the world's most powerful men filled her with panic.
Pleas of Misinterpretation and Mounting Threats
In a follow-up video addressing the backlash, Fardowsa Muhumed pleaded her case. "If you told me a week ago that my name and Elon Musk's name are being voiced in the same breath, I wouldn't believe you. But here I am today," she said. She insists the viral clip was edited and stripped of context.
"I want to make myself clear: I never intended or even aimed to threaten the life of Elon Musk. I'm not a person that carries around hate," Muhumed stated. She explained that her intended message was about body positivity and encouraging kindness. "My message was meant to encourage kindness towards our bodies and toward one another if you want to live a long luxurious life," she clarified.
However, her explanations have been drowned out by a wave of online vitriol. "Private information about me is being displayed all over the internet. I have received an endless amount of threats over a miscommunication, and I truly fear for my future," the Somali TikToker revealed. She expressed feeling powerless, noting, "Elon is a very powerful man and has an endless amount of supporters. This will forever be a losing match for me."
A Broader Context of Tensions
The controversy erupted against a backdrop of existing tensions. Notably, Elon Musk has recently been criticising alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota, some of which involve Somali-run organisations. These schemes have led to arrests and actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Musk has repeatedly called for the deportation of individuals involved in such activities.
This context has added a fraught layer to the online dispute, with Muhumed feeling her words were "villainized" and her voice stolen. "Me and Elon Musk's lives are worlds apart. This entire situation has put me into great danger," she concluded, highlighting the vast power imbalance at play in the viral saga.
