Pete Davidson Defends Elon Musk's 'SNL' Appearance

Pete Davidson has defended Elon Musk, who is facing hostility from "Saturday Night Live" cast members ahead of his guest-hosting slot. Speaking during an appearance on Tuesday's "Late Night with Seth Meyers," the comedian said he did not understand what all the commotion was about.

"What's the big deal?" Davidson asked, according to Fox Business.

"I don't know why people are freaking out," he continued. "They're like, ‘Oh I can't believe that Elon Musk is hosting!' And I'm like, the guy that makes the Earth better, kind of, and makes cool things and sends people to Mars?"

Davidson added, he was looking forward to meeting Musk and having dinner with the tech mogul and "SNL" showrunner Lorne Michaels.

"I'm really excited, man, I'm gonna ask him for like a Tesla or some s**t," he said.

Musk is scheduled to guest host the NBC show May 8, but news of his new gig was met with strong reactions from other "SNL" cast members.

"Only CEO I want to do a sketch with is Cher-E Oteri," Andrew Dismuke wrote in an Instagram story, according to CNN Business. The text was posted over a photo of former "SNL" cast member Cheri Oteri.

"What the f**k does this even mean?" Bowen Yang wrote in an Instagram story in response to Musk's tweet stating, "Let's find out just how live 'Saturday Night Live' really is."

Aidy Bryant also weighed in on the matter by sharing a Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., post in an Instagram story that reads in part, "The 50 wealthiest people in this country own more wealth than some 165 million Americans. That is a moral obscenity."

In her tweet sharing a screenshot of the story, @abbymorr11 wrote:

"The absolute shade from Aidy Bryant after announcing that @nbcsnl will have Elon Musk as host. good for her"

It has since emerged "SNL" will reportedly not force cast members to perform alongside Musk.

"Speaking historically, if a cast member has been that unhappy, they don't have to do it. [SNL boss Lorne Michaels] won't ever make them do anything they don't want to do," a source told Page Six.

Davidson, meanwhile, has found himself also facing pushback. Last month he dissed YouTube star and former Disney actor Jake Paul while serving as a commentator on a Triller Fight Club pay-per-view, calling him a "piece of s***" and questioning why he was not in jail following a brush with the law. Responding to the comments on the "Impaulsive" podcast, Paul said Davidson would not be invited back.

"F**k that guy," Paul said. "He won't ever be a part of those ever again. He f***ed this sh*t up, bro."

Paul added he was sick of the drama Davidson stirred up because it "brings him more clout."

"The s*** he said is like s*** you can't take back," he said.