Italian culture ministry denies Musk and Zuckerberg’s fight.

US media reports plan to stage fight in Colosseum

Italy’s culture ministry rejects US media reports suggesting the Colosseum as a potential venue for a cage fight between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

TMZ reported that an Italian culture ministry official contacted Zuckerberg about hosting the high-profile clash between Musk, the Twitter owner, and Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, at the historic Colosseum.

In response, Musk fueled the rumors by tweeting about the Roman amphitheater, including a tweet that suggested the possibility of a fight taking place there.

Some chance fight happens in Colosseum— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2023

The Italian culture ministry spokesperson stated in a Corriere della Sera statement that there was no such proposal for hosting the fight between the tech giants. They suggested that if Zuckerberg and Musk wanted to perform in the Colosseum, it should be a non-violent challenge, such as a duel with Latin verses.

The ministry also proposed that the duo should make a financial contribution towards the protection of Italian historical heritage, and potentially donate a share to the Emilia Romagna region, which suffered from severe floods last month.

In recent days, the Colosseum gained attention when a tourist was caught carving his name and his girlfriend’s name into an inner wall, sparking outrage in Italy.

Culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano announced that the Carabinieri police have identified the alleged culprit responsible for the act, which may result in a fine of €15,000 and up to five years in prison.

Last week, Musk and Zuckerberg agreed to face each other in a cage fight, but specific details, including the date and venue, have yet to be announced.

Cover image: Colosseum, 20 May 2023. Photo Wanted in Rome.