Elon Musk’s stomach: A fake image of his barrel chest goes viral
Whether you like him or not, Elon Musk is constantly in the news. But recently, a picture of the billionaire with an expanded chest and stomach went viral, sparking online discussion over his physique.
Many people speculated that Musk might have barrel chest, a condition in which the chest appears abnormally puffed out, after seeing the viral image. There was a lot of conjecture: did Musk have a medical condition? Was there something more sinister going on here?
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Elon Musk’s name frequently provokes strong feelings and conversations, and lately, the topic has expanded beyond his political beliefs and wealth. No, something far more intimate—his body—has become the newest hot topic. On November 10, a picture of Musk with an abnormally huge chest and stomach went popular on X (previously Twitter), setting off a flurry of rumours.
The picture went viral and provoked powerful reactions, but there was a catch: it wasn’t authentic. Many people didn’t appear to care that the image was altered, even if fact-checkers and other media outlets confirmed it.
The tweet, which was shared on the site and had millions of views, was posted by the now-defunct account “evan loves morf.” “He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this,” the tweet said. The tweet included a photo of Musk created by artificial intelligence in addition to the disputed photograph. The tweet had over 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes in a short period of time.
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Discussions over Elon Musk’s body condition and the reason for his prominent chest surfaced after the picture was shared by other accounts on X a few hours later. Many hypothesised that Musk might have “barrel chest,” a condition in which the chest seems puffed up or rounded, like a barrel.
Barrell chest is not a sickness in and of itself, but it can indicate a more serious health problem that is frequently connected to lung disorders. The chest appears broader and more rounded as the lungs overfill with air, pushing out the ribs, chest, and upper back bones. Additionally, it may result in a shorter neck appearance, a raised collarbone, and a more noticeable sternum.
All of these conjectures, in my opinion, were needless, particularly given that the disputed image was obviously altered. Although some people made snap judgements regarding Elon Musk’s physical condition, the truth is that the picture was manipulated. According to Snopes, the manipulated image produced a false impression of Musk’s health and sparked a flurry of unfounded rumours.
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The First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk YouTube video, which was uploaded on June 22, 2024, is where the altered image first appeared. A picture of Musk that was later altered to enlarge his chest and stomach appears at the two-minute mark in the film.
In order to produce the deceptive photograph that went viral, an unidentified user Photoshopped Musk’s chest and stomach. Despite the online commotion produced by the viral rumours, Musk has largely remained silent about the subject. However, this is not the first time that the tech mogul’s physique or way of life has drawn notice.
Apart from the phoney 2024 shot, Musk made waves a few years ago when he was pictured on a $20,000-per-week yacht while on vacation in the Aegean Sea. Musk was shown shirtless in the viral photos, which sparked a wave of bullying and body-shaming. Musk, however, appeared unfazed.
He really handled it well, posting a hilarious reply on Twitter: “Hey, maybe I should take off my shirt more often. Let the nip go! (By the way, I’m now back in the factory).
The 53-year-old Elon Musk has been candid about his diet and weight loss experience, acknowledging that he has lost more than 20 pounds from what he thought was a “unhealthy peak weight.” Additionally, he acknowledged using Wegovy, a medication approved by the FDA for long-term weight control.
Musk is well-known for alternating periods of eating and fasting, which he claims has assisted him in controlling his weight. Additionally, he has acknowledged that his eating habits are not the healthiest.
Musk famously tweeted, for example, “I eat a doughnut every morning.” “Still alive,” in reaction to a physician who asserted that sugar is “poison.” He has a strong dislike for veggies and mostly eats steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke.
Elon Musk’s body has been a frequent subject of discussion, frequently overshadowing his enormous achievements, thanks to viral images and arguments on his diet and health. Musk seems to approach the criticism with a sense of humour, reminding the public that he is just living his life, body rumours and all, just like everyone else.
One thing is for sure: Elon Musk never fails to enthral the world with his actions, regardless of what’s on his plate (or not!). Online rumours regarding his health may have been based on a phoney photo. What about his physique? Regardless of the reality, it appears that will continue to be a topic of conversation.
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