Sam Harris is likening Elon Musk to a “clown” and offering an account of their ongoing rift. Harris, a neuroscientist-turned-philosopher and political pundit, has been the target of insults from the billionaire tech mogul for years now — and he said Wednesday that their feud began over a 2020 text message exchange due to clashing opinions on the likely severity of COVID-19.

Podcaster Sam Harris says the events that led to his fallout with Elon Musk included a bet over the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases.

Podcaster and public intellectual Sam Harris has spilled the beans on his falling-out with former pal Elon Musk. In a 1,700-word Substack post titled “The Trouble with Elon,” the Making Sense host revealed that a text exchange over COVID-19 led to the end of their years-long friendship.

Elon Musk made a COVID-era bet with his friend Sam Harris -- and the outcome ended their friendship, Harris says.