Tech Billionaire Elon Musk has been trending again recently for his alleged Nazi salute at a Presidential inauguration rally for Donald Trump. Musk has a history of public provocation on his social media platform X and in recent times has shown support for the far-right in Europe. In December 2024 Musk, claimed that a majority of so-called “grooming gangs” in the United Kingdom were comprised of Pakistani Muslims and also demanded the release of convicted British far-right agitator Tommy Robinson. The moral panic that resulted from the “grooming gangs” issue enabled far-right groups to use this narrative to justify protests outside mosques and violent attacks on innocent Muslims and is used by elements of the media to demonise Muslims and their faith.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a complex issue and it is not one that can be understood and addressed by scapegoating one ethnic or religious group. Studies consistently show that perpetrators seek out victims based on access, opportunity and vulnerability — not race or religion. A 2020 Home Office report found that group-based CSE offenders “come from diverse backgrounds” and that “it is not possible to make generalisations about their ethnicities or cultural backgrounds.” The report clearly warned that public perceptions are often shaped more by media coverage than by actual data. The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, also has noted that 88 percent of defendants prosecuted for child sexual abuse offences in England and Wales were White British.
Prominent British Muslim groups responded to Musk’s comments by saying the statements were inflammatory and called for evidence-based discourse. British Muslim bodies such as the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), claimed that Musk’s remarks perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fuel Islamophobia and urged him to engage with nuanced research rather than promote divisive narratives. Advocacy group MEND stated that it was “deeply alarmed by the direction that the national conversation has taken in recent days around the issue of CSE” and that said “the state and local authorities must give the victims of CSE all of the support they can while escalating efforts to implement preventative measures against further crimes taking place.”
Many British Muslim organisations also pointed a critical finger at mainstream and social media platforms for amplifying Musk’s allegations without sufficient scrutiny. They argued that platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which Musk owns, bear responsibility for fostering responsible discourse and must not take advantage for political gain. Some British Muslim advocacy groups suggested that effective responses to grooming gang crimes require evidence-based policy making rather than scapegoating. Agencies like the Muslim Women’s Network UK, who have engaged the subject stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable children from CSE while avoiding racial and religious profiling.
The fallout from Musk’s social media output highlights the precarious position of British Muslims in public discourse. Over the past decade, numerous studies have documented rising levels of Islamophobia, often fuelled by prejudiced media representations and political rhetoric. Miqdaad Versi, from the Centre for Media Monitoring has, argued that high-profile incidents like Musk’s statement are not isolated but part of a systemic problem where Muslims are disproportionately linked to criminality in the public imagination. Versi called for stronger media regulatory frameworks to ensure that influential figures cannot spread unsubstantiated claims without accountability. Elon Musk’s remarks about British Pakistani Muslims and grooming gangs have reignited a toxic debate about race, religion, and criminality in the UK, and will likely resurface periodically. While the problem of CSE must be addressed with urgency and justice be delivered to the victims, it is imperative to resist narratives that unfairly single out specific communities and spread hatred.