The Week Grimes And Elon Musk Broke The Internet: A Deep Dive
Jason Kempin/NASA By Scott Lapatine
Grimes is dating Elon Musk. You probably know this because you’re reading this on the internet, which is currently saturated with think-pieces and memes about Grimes dating Elon Musk. The unlikely news broke earlier this week before the Met Gala, which they attended together. Art Angels and Musk-eteers (an obvious pun that nobody, to my knowledge, has taken advantage of) have retreated to their separate online corners to discuss and debate the union. Apparently, there are enough people on either side for this to be a really big deal, big enough that fans are digging up and analyzing Grimes’ old tweets. But how did this happen? Who cares? And also, why?
Who are these people?
Let’s start with the basics. Grimes, real name Claire Boucher, makes experimental art-pop (Stereogum.com called her last LP the best album of 2015). Elon Musk makes Teslas and tunnels and runs a space transportation services company. They have a shared curiosity about artificial intelligence. Grimes is somewhat of an indie treasure and maybe a witch. Musk is a role-model to billionaire aspirants and nerds.
Did they meet at an intergalactic conference?
It’s the classic tale of Boy Tweets Girl Because Girl Referenced An AI Thought Experiment In Her Music Video. As Page Six reports, Musk wanted to tweet a joke that Grimes had already made three years prior in her video for “Flesh Without Blood.” The joke? “Rococo Basilisk. What? A play on words referencing the thought experiment Roko’s Basilisk and the 18th century baroque style Rococo. On the day of the Met Gala, Musk tweeted the joke, “Rococo basilisk.” NICE. He followed the tweet with a link to Rococo’s Wikipedia page, in case we plebeians missed the punchline.
Rococo basilisk
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2018
Musk was also hinting at their burgeoning relationship last month when he replied to one of Grimes’ tweets with this killer pick-up line: “Yeah, most people don’t know this, but comets r mostly made of cocaine.” A Twitter user responded, “Just ask her out already Elon.” Musk tweeted back with a winking emoji.
Yeah, most people don’t know this, but comets r mostly made of cocaine
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 28, 2018
Is the Met Gala an intergalactic conference?
Of sorts! It’s an annual themed ball, formally called the Costume Institute Gala, attended by couture-clad celebrities, artists, and other kinds of rich people. The theme this year was Catholicism, or something. Musk wore a inverted priest collar and Grimes accessorized her goth ballerina look with a Tesla logo choker. I’m not making this up. The two designed the outfit together.
Elon Musk with Grimes at the #MetGala: "I don't know how to do this" 👽 https://t.co/ryblJ8kc8D pic.twitter.com/D8yvhqTfPf
— Stereogum (@stereogum) May 8, 2018
Why is Grimes dating this man?
The answer is unclear, but some are pointing to a resurfaced 2009 news story about Grimes’ hilarious failed houseboat experiment, wondering if Musk’s transportation expertise could be a factor.
I’m drawing a line between her getting stuck on a boat in the Mississippi to this
— brook shelley (@brookshelley) May 8, 2018
tbh I’m pretty excited for @Grimezsz next handmade boat adventure now that she’s got the power and resources of @elonmusk on her side
— tom hazel (@tomhazel613) May 8, 2018
I mean, we do have to remember Grimes is someone who thought renaming herself Zelda Xox and taking a “houseboat adventure” down the Mississippi River on a boat named Velvet Glove Cast in Iron was a good idea https://t.co/kf5lgMo9sb
— Nick Hanover (@Nick_Hanover) May 8, 2018
Why are people going batshit?
Because people love to be angry on the internet! That aside, Grimes fans have some reasonable contention given Musk’s mores. You know, like trying to convince his employees not to unionize by offering snacks and frozen yogurt. Also, capitalism.
One Twitter user pointed out that Grimes changed her bio, removing “anti-imperialist.”
she took anti-imperialist out of her bio fjdjJJhfjdhdjdhdj pic.twitter.com/PjLrVPDFND
— aristotle (@frijoIero) May 8, 2018
Musk’s camp isn’t reacting with as much fervency. Many of them refer to Grimes as his hot goth girlfriend. Charming! Someone on r/teslamotors also pointed out that Grimes’ mom owns a Tesla. As long as Musk is happy and exceedingly successful, they are happy.
But it looks like the colossal relationship buzz has already affected one of his ventures!
Standing down today due to a standard ground system auto abort at T-1 min. Rocket and payload are in good health—teams are working towards tomorrow’s backup launch opportunity at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or 20:14 UTC.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 10, 2018
Who have they dated before?
Well, Grimes was apparently in a relationship with the houseboat guy, before she was Grimes, and later with musicians Devon Welsh (Majical Cloudz) and James Brooks (Elite Gymnastics/Default Genders). Musk dated actress Amber Heard and before that had been married to Justine Musk and actress Talulah Riley (twice).
What about the memes?
Not just memes: Grusk/Mimes fan accounts, t-shirts, and, I regret to inform you, fan-fiction are a regrettable Google search away. There’s also a Chrome extension that will replace any text mention of “Elon Musk” with “Grimes’ boyfriend.”
And yes there have been some great memes. Grimes and Musk even tweeted their approval of some.
Elon Musk: Hey babe where do you want to go to dinner ?
Grimes : pic.twitter.com/JMBr9ojh1b
— fatty (@fatandfem) May 9, 2018
accurate https://t.co/WE7CdGtSeE
— Grimes (@Grimezsz) May 9, 2018
ELON MUSK AND GRIMES BE LIKE “ᵐ ᵘ L ᵗᶦᵖᵃˢˢ” pic.twitter.com/XbHkkot3bp
— [ ] (@freebasecatnip) May 7, 2018
So rococo
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2018
Al Yankovic took notice of a potential “Weird Al Conspiracy.”
Um, what? pic.twitter.com/IlTwbppo3h
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) May 10, 2018
Grimes faved that and Musk responded to it.
My a capella cover of Amish Paradise is irresistible https://t.co/mBo6aJV42O
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 10, 2018
People are having fun!
Grimes and Elon Musk looking up fancy restaurants pic.twitter.com/Pu8kWW3kOC
— joy ann reid's hacker (@amcnal) May 8, 2018
Elon Musk and Grimes make their debut at the Met Gala pic.twitter.com/plAvt2xvc6
— despite your efforts you cannot escape pajamashaw (@pajamashaw) May 8, 2018
"Grimes is dating Elon Musk" pic.twitter.com/KqgX9My35W
— Dear Right People (@9000x) May 8, 2018
absolute hottest take on elon & grimes pic.twitter.com/pl88ZDTGIe
— false smerdis (@literallymaeve) May 8, 2018
But what about the MUSIC?
This relationship already inspired a song: PC Music mastermind A.G. Cook remixed “Flesh Without Blood” and called it “Flesh Without Musk.” Grimes is on that great new Janelle Monáe album and recently teased a collaboration with YouTube-personality-turned-popstar Poppy, but we’re still waiting to hear the “deep well of shit” written for her next solo project. Speaking of music, Musk was asked by Twitter user @WeDragonSlayers8 what his favorite Grimes songs are.
Flesh without Blood & Kill V Maim on Art Angels album https://t.co/MycGWvbYGk
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 8, 2018
name 3 more, bitch https://t.co/ayNs8sZFuj
— Brandon Wardell (@BRANDONWARDELL) May 9, 2018
What could go wrong?
She morphs into Musk, starts delegating music-making to AI robots, and/or leaves us to govern a colony on Mars. Assuming those things don’t happen, nothing!
