The Star Trek actor felt nauseated when Elon Musk quoted the show in a SpaceX promotion
Robert Picardo, who has starred in the franchise since 1995, responded on social media after Musk made a reference to the fictional Starfleet Academy.
For a longtime member of the franchise, Elon Musk’s latest “Star Trek” reference didn’t fly.
The controversial billionaire shared a post Monday on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in which he appeared to promote his SpaceX company with an allusion to “Star Trek’s” fictional Starfleet Academy — only to get roasted.
“Let’s make Starfleet Academy real!” Musk posted on X, which he acquired for $44 billion in 2022.
Gene Roddenberry created “Star Trek’s” fictional space force with egalitarianism and cosmic peace at the forefront.
While Musk founded the real-life SpaceX with purported dreams of interplanetary travel, he has lost much of his past goodwill in recent years.
Research has not only shown a stark increase in racist posts since he acquired X, but Musk has personally advocated against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and maintains his daughter is “dead” to him — solely because she transitioned from male to female in 2022.
His twee “Star Trek” reference was thus quite unwelcomed by beloved franchise alum Robert Picardo, who replied Tuesday on X: “First step : Support a leader that embodies Starfleet values like diversity, inclusion and ethical behavior.”
Musk has previously called “Star Trek” his favorite show. He even wore a jacket referencing the series during his meeting with Argentinian President Javier Milei earlier this year.
Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the purported goal of interplanetary travel.
KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picardo has played The Doctor, a holographic character, as well its creator Lewis Zimmerman, since the 1995 premiere of “Star Trek: Voyager.” He’s also starred in the “Deep Space Nine” and “Renegades” spinoffs and feature film entries like “Star Trek: First Contact.”
“When you join the franchise and they particularly like your character, it’s a nice feeling of being welcomed into something larger than yourself, with a history, obviously, that predates my involvement, but that will go on forever after I’m gone,” he recently told the “Star Trek” website.
Picardo’s post was both praised by fans and derided by Musk’s supporters, who claim that diversity, equity and inclusion — which aims to give equal footing to historically marginalized communities — impedes any chance of a merit-based society.
Picardo ultimately found support from none other than actor Lynda Carter — “Wonder Woman” herself — who posted Wednesday on X: “Dear @RobertPicardo, you are a gem.”
