'He Did This While Kids Were Dying': Elon Musk Slams Zelenskyy Over His Old Vogue Shoot

Last Updated:February 20, 2025, 23:42 IST

Elon Musk slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his 2022 Vogue photoshoot and questioned its timing which coincided with the Russia-Ukraine war

Elon Musk reacts to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 2022 Vogue photoshoot. (Source: X/Reuters)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday blasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for taking part in a 2022 Vogue photoshoot at a time when the Russia-Ukraine conflict was going on.

Musk reacted to a post on X in which a Vogue cover photo of Zelenskyy was shared and said, “He did this while kids are dying in trenches on the war front."

The Vogue photoshoot featured Zelenskyy with his wife First Lady Olena Zelenska. The cover photo was taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz and the title of the feature was “Portrait of Bravery: Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska."

The aim of the photoshoot was to underline the resilience of the Ukrainians who were at war with Russia.

The photo shoot, however, received backlash for its timing from various people which included conservative commentators in the US.

Musk was not the first one to criticise Zelenskyy for the photoshoot. He was also earlier slammed by Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and Texas Congresswoman Mayra Flores.

“While we send Ukraine $60 billion in aid, Zelenskyy is doing photoshoots for Vogue. These people think we are nothing but a bunch of suckers," wrote Boebert.

Meanwhile, Flores commented, “Biden: Let’s continue to send billions of dollars in foreign aid to Ukraine, they need it! Reality: The Zelensky family graces us with a photo shoot to be on the cover of Vogue magazine."

Reacting to the controversy, Zelenskyy had earlier said he conveys his message through media.

“If you want people to perceive you as you are, you must use what people use," he said.

Speaking to Vogue, his wife Olena Zelenska emphasised the struggles of Ukrainians amid the war and added “These have been the most horrible months of my life, and the lives of every Ukrainian."

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world 'He Did This While Kids Were Dying': Elon Musk Slams Zelenskyy Over His Old Vogue Shoot