2:01 PM PT -- Multiple Tesla-connected sources tell TMZ, the failed demonstration was not fake. A number of people think it was all designed for a viral social media moment, but we've learned that's not the case at all. We're told both Elon and Franz von Holzhausen -- Tesla's chief designer and ball thrower -- were confident going in that the glass would not shatter. After the glass shattered sources say both Elon and Franz were "upset, bewildered and dumbfounded."
Elon Musk has a smashing success on his hands, and we mean that in the worst way possible because his new Tesla Cybertruck -- billed as shatterproof -- shattered moments after he unveiled it.
We'll say this ... if Elon isn't firing a handful of people right now, he's going soft. On Thursday at SpaceX HQ in Hawthorne, CA ... he pulled back the curtain on the Cybertruck, and had a staffer throw a metal ball at the driver side windows to prove the near-indestructibility of its "armor glass."
It couldn't have gone worse as both windows shattered. Elon seemed to vamp to find a silver lining, saying ... "It didn't go through. That's a plus side."
It was reminiscent of some of SpaceX's early Falcon 9 rocket disasters. 'Memba this one? Juuuuust a bit outside of the landing pad, and into the drink!
To be fair, the Falcon 9 works like a charm now, so maybe that bodes well for the Cybertruck's future, but calling its introduction an embarrassment is an enormous understatement.
In fact, it went sooooo badly, it smells of a setup. The question -- was Elon in on it, just to make sure the new Cybertruck unveiling went viral? OR, was Elon set up by prankster employees?
If it's the latter, like we said ... someone's looking into unemployment benefits right now.
Originally Published -- 6:44 AM PT