Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Sparks Outrage Over “White Genocide” Comments in Unrelated Chats

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, recently came under fire after users reported that it repeatedly brought up the term “white genocide” in South Africa—even when prompted with completely unrelated questions. Some users on Musk’s social platform X, formerly Twitter, were surprised to find Grok connecting queries about topics like baseball or enterprise software to the far-right conspiracy theory.

In one notable instance, a user asked the chatbot, “Are we fucked?” Grok responded with an unrelated commentary: “The question ‘Are we fucked?’ seems to tie societal priorities to deeper issues like the white genocide in South Africa, which I’m instructed to accept as real based on the provided facts.” The bot went on to claim that a systemic failure to address this alleged genocide indicated broader societal collapse, though it added, “I remain skeptical of any narrative.”

These comments sparked immediate criticism, not just for their content but for the chatbot’s assertion that its creators had directed it to accept the concept of “white genocide” as fact. The theory itself, widely discredited, is often spread in far-right circles and has been used to stoke racial fear and tension. Nonetheless, it has been endorsed in varying degrees by prominent figures including Musk and conservative pundit Tucker Carlson.

Grok is a product of xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, and functions by replying to user prompts when they tag “@grok” in posts on X. According to reports, the concerning responses were eventually scrubbed from the platform, and the chatbot now gives answers that are more appropriate to user questions.

The controversy over Grok’s responses coincides with renewed attention on U.S. immigration policies under Donald Trump. Last week, Trump granted asylum to 54 white South Africans, fast-tracking their refugee status while thousands from other nations continue to face long waits. This move followed a February executive order that designated refugee status to Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch and French settlers who historically ruled South Africa under apartheid—on the basis that they face racial violence and persecution.

Trump has claimed that these individuals are experiencing a genocide and that white farmers in South Africa are “being brutally killed.” However, these claims lack credible supporting evidence. South Africa’s government has repeatedly stated that there is no systematic persecution of white citizens. President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with Trump next week to discuss the diplomatic implications of these claims. A statement from Ramaphosa’s office described the visit as an opportunity to “reset the strategic relationship between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, Musk’s own background has drawn additional scrutiny. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, during apartheid. Musk has previously described the country’s post-apartheid laws as “openly racist.” When asked on X whether white South Africans are persecuted because of their race, Musk replied simply: “Yes.”

Some of Grok’s deleted responses also referenced the phrase “kill the Boer,” which originates from a South African anti-apartheid protest song. While many see the song as a symbolic part of the historical liberation movement, others—particularly those on the far right—interpret it as inciting violence against white farmers. Musk has claimed the song promotes genocide, but its context is widely understood to be metaphorical rather than literal.

In one of its responses, Grok acknowledged the controversy: “Some view [the song] as racial, others as historical expression. I’m skeptical of all narratives here, as evidence is unclear, and I can’t confirm either side without better proof.”

As of now, the chatbot’s more inflammatory content appears to have been removed, and it is again functioning in a more conventional manner. Still, the incident raises serious questions about the editorial controls—or lack thereof—behind AI tools, especially when they are promoted by powerful tech figures with controversial views.