Jeremy Clarkson, never one to hold back, is now publicly celebrating what he sees as his long-delayed vindication in his feud with Elon Musk.
In his latest column for The Sunday Times, the former Top Gear host reflects on the moment Musk sued the BBC show after Clarkson gave a scathing 2008 review of the Tesla Roadster—and he’s relishing the turn of events.
“Seventeen years after the nice Mr. Musk sued me, the victory is mine,” Clarkson writes.
The grudge dates back to Clarkson’s televised test of Tesla’s first production car.
On Top Gear, he dismissed the Roadster as unreliable, saying it “died after only eight miles,” took 16 hours to charge, and had poor braking performance.
Musk responded with a lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the show of defamation.
But the lawsuit ultimately failed in court, and Clarkson now sees Tesla’s recent downturn as proof that his original assessment was more accurate than Musk ever wanted to admit.
Clarkson: I Should Have Sued Musk Instead
Clarkson says he never filed a countersuit, even though Musk publicly attacked the review’s credibility. In hindsight, he implies he would have been justified—though he’s now content to let Tesla’s current challenges speak for themselves.
“It’s payback time,” Clarkson writes.
He reiterates his stance that he’s always been “meticulously fair” in his car reviews and rejects the idea that his critique of the Tesla Roadster was unfair or biased.
In his column, Clarkson notes the irony that the same environmentalist circles that once idolized Musk are now turning on him.
“What makes it such a juicy story is that today he is being hacked to death by the very people who put him on a pedestal in the first place. The eco-hippies,” Clarkson comments.
He also expresses confusion over Musk’s increasingly polarizing public image, suggesting the Tesla CEO has become “radicalized” in recent years.
Sympathy for Tesla Owners—But Not for the Hype
While Clarkson shows little sympathy for Musk himself, he does spare a thought for Tesla owners, who he says are now caught in the crossfire.
He criticizes those who now call for Teslas to be “burned down” or vandalized, calling that reaction excessive. Still, he can’t help reminding readers that he warned everyone back in 2008.
“Of course, I would like to remind all of you Tesla owners that 17 years ago I warned you that there would be no benefit to buying a Tesla,” he writes.
“But you didn't listen. You chose to believe Elon Musk. And now… you have to park your car in a locked garage and use public transportation.”
With his signature blend of sarcasm and smug satisfaction, Clarkson closes by taunting Tesla fans with a parting shot:
“Some people in real cars will drive by and mock you.”
