On his “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) appearance, Tesla’s Elon Musk revealed he has Asperger’s Syndrome – a condition characterized by different interpretations of one’s environment as compared to other people.
During the show, the tech billionaire told viewers he was the “first person with Asperger’s to host the long-running program.” The scene was followed by loud cheers from the audience. The occasion also marked the first time that the 49-year old Musk talked about his condition.
Musk was a guest host for the show, adding to the list of many celebrities that have filled that role since the show’s inception back in the 1970s. Among these celebrities were Adele, Chris Rock, Ringo Starr, and Will Ferrell.
Musk might not be the first after all
Musk was on his opening monologue at the show, talking about his intonation and variation on the way he speaks, when he made the claim of being the first with Asperger’s to host SNL.
But some people took to social media to question the entrepreneur’s claims. They cited a previous guest host on the show in the person of comedian Dan Aykroyd. According to them, he has publicly spoken about his experiences with Tourette’s and Asperger’s Syndrome, thereby refuting Musk’s claims.
The Asperger’s Syndrome
Asperger’s Syndrome is a lifelong condition that has different ways of affecting people. Those who are diagnosed with the Syndrome might experience difficulties in interpreting verbal and non-verbal language and need more time to process information.
The condition also causes people to have trouble expressing how they feel by conventional means. However, people with the Syndrome can be more empathetic and emotionally aware as compared to those who don’t have the condition. Also, they tend to be more and intensely focused, and they usually channel it towards their careers.
Some people with Asperger’s Syndrome use the term to refer to their condition, but some refer to themselves as autistic or on the autistic spectrum.
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