"Backing total tyranny over free lives now" — Internet reacts to Pink Floyd's Roger Waters calling Elon Musk an "oligarch" for anti-Maduro stance

Pink Floyd co-founder and bassist Roger Waters sparked outrage for calling Elon Musk an "oligarch" after the billionaire criticized Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro for “major election fraud.”

On July 29, Venezuela's electoral council announced Maduro won the election with 51% of the vote, while his opposition Edmundo González secured 44%. Since the election, tensions have been on the rise in Venezuela, followed by protests after the opposition accused Maduro of electoral fraud.

On July 30, Waters claimed Elon Musk was "trying to get rid of the government that represents ordinary people" due to his anti-Maduro stance.

"Elon Musk is posting anti-Maduro tweets about the Venezuelan election that Nicolás Maduro just won. Elon Musk, yeah, the oligarch Elon Musk! I wonder why he wants to get rid of the government that represents the ordinary people," he said.

"This is the Elon Musk who sat in front row seats, probably given to him by his friend Netanyahu, the mass murderer. Well, Netanyahu sat and told his lies all afternoon to Congress, yes that Elon Musk, so I shouldn't take much notice of him," he continued.

Waters's video was met with criticism online, with one person tweeting:

More people joined in to lambast Waters, accusing the musician of lacking self-awareness and being unstable.

"If Roger Waters did not exist, we would have to invent him so that we could giggle at his total lack of self awareness," one person tweeted.

"Is Roger Waters pulling a Syd Barrett and losing his mind? He’s been getting increasingly unstable these days. Shine on You Crazy Diamond Part II?" another person questioned.

"The self-described defenders of human rights always seem to support the most brutal and savage dictators," one netizen noted.

"115 yr old, fried acid-brained Pink Floyd bassist, Roger Waters, is attacking @elonmusk and wants tyranny over freedom! This geezer should move to Venezuela to room w the dictator. Maybe find a good dentist, too. GROSS!" another user declared.

Others accused the musician of being an "idiot" for throwing his support behind Maduro.

"Roger Waters is absolutely insane… a brainless idiot who lost his mind many years ago and it shows time after time…" one user tweeted.

"Out of all the drug wrecked former rock stars of the 70s, Roger Waters is by far the most stupid," someone else commented.

"Nazi enthusiast Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters throws his support behind Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro; attacks Elon Musk. The same Roger Waters that celebrates Hamas and October 7th. Pro Jihadists and pro Communist dictators are all intertwined. As the Squad says: it's all intersectional," another person elaborated.

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Roger Waters called for an investigation into Venezuela's election results

In his video, Roger Waters called for a "proper, quiet, calm investigation" into the outcome of the Venezuelan election, advising people against escalating the situation. His video came as a response to a series of tweets posted by Elon Musk on his social media platform X, accusing Maduro of "major election fraud" and calling him a dictator.

According to Fox Business, Maduro hit back at Musk, calling him his archenemy and challenging him to a fight in a video on July 29, 2024.

“Social media creates a virtual reality, and who controls the virtual reality? Our new archenemy, the famous Elon Musk. Do you want to fight? Let’s do it. Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you, Elon Musk. Let’s fight, wherever you want,” he said.

Maduro's opposition party, who maintained they won the elections by securing 70% of votes in multiple exit polls, have been trying to usurp his position after 11 years in power. The election results, announced on Monday, saw Venezuela erupt into chaos as protests broke out in central Caracas.

According to the BBC, armed police and military were deployed to keep the protests in check using tear gas and rubber bullets. Around 750 people have been arrested and 16 died during the protests.