Jamie Lynn Spears said thatTesla is a "secret cat killer" because they are too quiet, and saysElon Musk owes her "a couple cats."- In a now-deleted video posted to her Instagram story, Spears suggested that Tesla should make noises that cats can hear so they "aren't caught off guard and things don't end in a very tragic way."
- Spears later posted to her Instagram again, where she clarified that she had not run over any cats and that she was not blaming "the geniuses @teslamotors."
Jamie Lynn Spears said that Tesla is a "secret cat killer" because the car is too quiet, and that Elon Musk now owes her "a couple of cats."
In an Instagram video that has since been deleted, the former Nickelodeon star recorded herself discussing what she believes to be a serious problem with Musk's Tesla cars.
"I know there are bigger things to worry about in the world right now but somebody has got to let Elon Musk know that the Tesla is a secret cat killer and it's a problem that we really gotta fix," she said.
"We have now lost, I don't even want to tell you how many cats, because they don't hear the Tesla crank and unfortunate things happen and it's really devastating and tragic for everyone involved."
The 29-year-old singer and actress suggested that Tesla should be given an update so that it makes a noise that "bothers cat or animal ears."
Spears said: "That way they know something's happening and they aren't caught off guard and things don't end in a very tragic way."
She added: "Elon Musk, let's figure this out. You owe me a couple cats."
At the end of the video, which was reposted by internet news commentary page Def Noodles, Spears says that there is some "user error involved" in these unfortunate incidents, but she says she and Musk should "collaborate to save some cats' lives."
—Def Noodles (@defnoodles) January 18, 2021
As reported by CNN, Tesla and all other electric cars are actually required to emit noises above 43 decibels when they are travelling faster than 18.6 mph. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration implemented this rule in September 2020 "to ensure that blind, visually impaired, and other pedestrians are able to detect and recognize nearby hybrid and electric vehicles."
Spears has since posted to her Instagram story again, however, to clear up the situation after she was called a cat serial killer by some online.
—black lives matter (@Corvid_Queen_) January 17, 2021
E! reported that Spears wrote on her Instagram story: "1.) I did not run over any cats. 2.) TESLA is not to be blamed, and was never intended to be 3.) user error is admittedly involved. 4.) we always check for animals before moving a vehicle. 5.) I was only making a suggestion about something I think would be extremely helpful, and the geniuses at @teslamotors are the best to go."
Elon Musk, whose girlfriend Grimes tested positive for COVID-19 on January 9, has yet to respond to Spears' posts. Insider has reached out to Tesla for comment.