Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus Robot Sparks Chaos at ‘Tron: Ares’ Premiere with Jared Leto Hours Before Lawsuit for Knocking a Worker Unconscious Goes Viral
Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus grabbed headlines at the Los Angeles premiere of Tron: Ares, drawing attention for its unusual behavior on the red carpet. The event went viral just hours after news broke of a lawsuit accusing Tesla of negligence.
Optimus, one of Tesla’s advanced humanoid robots, appeared at the Walt Disney premiere alongside stars like Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Jeff Bridges. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, celebrated the robot’s red carpet debut on his social media platform X, posting, “Optimus at the Tron Premiere!” He reshared Disney’s post showing the robot interacting with Hollywood talent.
Optimus at the Tron premiere https://t.co/gE2zAhyWeP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2025
The official X account for Optimus also joined the buzz, tweeting, “Tried to start a fight at the Tron: Ares premiere.” Video clips showed Optimus performing fighting stances while facing actor Jared Leto, quickly going viral with millions of views. Fans were entertained by the robot’s kung fu-like moves, and the event became a trending topic online.
Greetings Programs. Welcome to the World Premiere of #TronAres pic.twitter.com/BoNMtI9xHj
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) October 7, 2025
XBusiness also highlighted the collaboration between Tesla, Disney, and xAI, stating, “@xAI, @WaltDisneyCo, and @Tesla today announced interactive AI-driven experiences in-person and on X to celebrate the world premiere of TRON: ARES. By integrating xAI’s advanced AI technology and X’s real-time platform with Disney’s iconic TRON universe, this partnership will immerse red carpet attendees and fans in the neon-lit digital realm of this groundbreaking franchise.”
While the premiere generated excitement, Tesla faced scrutiny elsewhere. CBS8 reported that Peter Hinterdobler, a Tesla robotics mechanic, filed a lawsuit claiming Optimus attacked him during a maintenance shift in February.
According to the complaint, the robot unexpectedly activated and pinned Hinterdobler to the ground, using its counterbalance weight, which the suit estimated at 8,000 pounds.
Hinterdobler alleges that the robot clamped its mechanical arm onto his left shoulder, pressing him against a table until co-workers intervened and deactivated the machine. The mechanic reportedly sustained injuries to his shoulder, neck, and back, along with psychological trauma.
He is seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering, as well as punitive damages for what his attorney described as Tesla’s “willful and reckless disregard” for employee safety.
This incident highlights the challenges of integrating advanced robotics into real-world environments. While Optimus captured public attention with its Hollywood antics, serious questions remain about safety and reliability.
It’s fascinating to see robots like Optimus gain mainstream attention, but this lawsuit shows the risks are very real. It raises concerns about workplace safety and responsibility when dealing with powerful AI-driven machines. What do you think about Tesla’s Optimus and the lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments.