lillyanne_/TikTok, Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
- Several "double-income no kids" couples' videos went viral on X, generating backlash.
- Some lamented them for their choice, calling them "genetic dead ends."
- Elon Musk chimed in, saying there was an "awful morality" for couples who don't have children.
Elon Musk has weighed in on viral videos of people talking about being childless and carefree by saying there is an "awful morality to those who deliberately have no kids."
The billionaire, who has 10 known children, has long been outspoken about his views on having kids.
When Business Insider revealed that Musk had twins with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis last year, the billionaire tweeted, "doing my best to help the under population crisis," and that "a collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far."
His latest comment comes in response to a video of a self-described DINK couple, which stands for "double-income no kids," posted to X.
In the video, the couple describes the benefits of having no children, including going to workout classes and Trader Joe's on the weekends, enjoying skiing and golfing, and spontaneous vacations among the benefits of their position.
BI reached out to the original poster of the video, a financial influencer named John Eringman, for comment.
Popular X user Wall Street Silver, who has over a million followers, shared Eringman's video, saying when these couples reach their 50s to 80s, they will be "regretting this strategy."
The video also caught the attention of Musk who replied with his own take.
"There is an awful morality to those who deliberately have no kids: they are effectively demanding that other people's kids take care of them in their old age," he wrote. "That's messed up."
While some agreed with Musk, others said they didn't believe wanting care when older should be the sole purpose of having children.
"I know lots of people in their old age and their kids are living in the basement and they aren't taking care of their parents," replied alternative health advocate Erin Elizabeth.
"It is, but also, many many people have kids, and they don't visit or take care of their parents in their old age," another response reads. "That's not the reason people should be having kids."
Another video a day earlier by DINK couple Lilly Anne and her partner Evan Hall, both 21 and from Utah, generated debate.
"We're DINKs," Anne said in the video. "We're going to get asked daily when we plan on having kids."
"We're DINKs," said Hall. "Of course we're going to go out to eat every night after work."
@lillyanne_ Living the best life, the D.I.N.K life 😎 #dink #nokids #couple #fyp
♬ original sound - Lilly
Anne added that they don't have to ask their family for financial help, and don't ever require babysitters. Hall said they also go to Costco and bulk-buy all the snacks that they want.
Other benefits to DINK-life that they mentioned included a disposable income to spend on what they want, and the freedom to go to football games and play golf whenever they wanted.
"We're DINKs," Anne said at the end of the video. "We're going to get asked at every single family event what we're doing with our life."
The video amassed 3.7 million views on TikTok, with people in the comments either agreeing that they too enjoyed their childless lifestyles, or chiming in with how much they loved their own kids.
Largely, though there was disagreement, the commenters seemed respectful of each other's opinions on the matter.
But that all changed when Anne's video was reposted to X.
"You're both genetic dead ends congrats," wrote one X user on sharing the video on December 4. There, it racked up 22 million views, and generated more insults in replies.
"Enjoy your highly depressive and meaningless existence," wrote one person, while another described the video as "really sad narcissism."
Another simply labeled the couple "Spoiled baby millennials" (though they are both technically Gen Z).
Anne and Hall did not seem offended by the backlash. They posted two more TikToks in which they showed their lack of concern over the noise.
"Evan and I watching you guys blow up my comment section over a lighthearted joke," the comment reads on one of them, where Anne sips her coffee and smiles at the camera.
BI has reached out to Anne for comment.