Sex, Scandal & SpaceX: 6 Allegations Made Against Elon Musk

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have come under intense scrutiny following serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour and misconduct towards women within his companies. According to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal, Musk has been accused of engaging in sexual relationships with employees, fostering a hostile work environment, and making uncomfortable advances towards female staff members. The report claims that female Tesla employees reported that Mr Musk paid them "an unusual amount of attention or pursued" them. 

The accusations also arise from a lawsuit filed by eight former employees who claim they were unfairly dismissed for raising concerns about a hostile work environment. This has brought attention to a pattern of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour and has raised questions about SpaceX's workplace culture.

Elon Musk “bombards the workplace with lewd sexual banter, and offers the reprise to those who challenge the 'Animal House' environment that if they don't like it, they can seek employment elsewhere”, the complaint reported. The employees claimed, “Filing this suit marks an important milestone in our quest for justice, for holding leadership accountable, and for implementing responsible changes in workplace policies.”

These allegations add to a growing list of controversies surrounding the tech magnate, raising concerns about the workplace culture at SpaceX and Tesla. 

Detailed Allegations and Legal Actions

The Wall Street Journal's report highlights multiple incidents where Musk allegedly engaged in inappropriate behaviour with his employees.

• The lawsuit claims that Elon Musk built an environment at SpaceX in which women are treated as "sexual objects," with evaluations based on their bra sizes. According to former employees, the hostile environment includes vulgar sexual conversation and a casual attitude towards sexual misconduct. These charges surfaced following an open letter issued by employees to SpaceX management, stating their concerns about the workplace environment. Instead of addressing these issues, the lawsuit alleges that Musk personally ordered the termination of anyone who spoke up.
• One particularly troubling event mentioned is a video shown at an employee holiday party. In this video, Musk and other executives, including VP of Human Resources Brian Bjelde, participated in skits that made light of sexual misconduct. In one scene, Bjelde allegedly had an employee demonstrate the "correct" way to spank him. 
• The report also mentions accusations of Musk having sexual relationships with two employees, including an intern. Additionally, he is reported to have asked another employee to have his babies, citing his belief in the necessity of high-IQ individuals procreating to address a perceived underpopulation crisis.
•  In another case, a SpaceX flight attendant claims that Musk exposed himself to her and offered to buy her a horse in exchange for sex in 2016. 

Hostile Work Environment

Former employees have described a workplace environment at SpaceX and Tesla that is hostile and dismissive of complaints regarding sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Women employees have reported being subjected to sexual comments and jokes, often feeling marginalized and underpaid compared to their male counterparts. There have also been instances where employees who raised concerns about the workplace culture were allegedly dismissed or faced retaliation.

• One former SpaceX employee who resigned in 2013 claimed that Musk repeatedly asked her to visit his house at night. Text exchanges presented in the Wall Street Journal report reveal Musk's persistent invitations, which made the employee feel pressured and uncomfortable.

The following details the text exchange between the two:

Elon Musk: “Come by! Look, it's either me or 6 am [exercise] :)”

Elon Musk: “Just finished the Model 3 production call. It's def going to be hell for several more months.”

Elon Musk: “Are you coming over? If not, I will probably tranq out. Too stressed to sleep naturally.”

Elon Musk: “Probably best if we don't see each other.”

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The next morning, the woman texted Mr Musk, saying, “Oh man. I'm sorry, I'd already fallen asleep. I've been a late-night person most of my life but have been trying to switch over because it seems responsible. Tbh. Sorry, I crashed last night."

• Adding to the controversy, Musk has also been accused of using drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, and ketamine. These allegations suggest that he engaged in substance use at work, sometimes alongside board members, further complicating the image of his leadership and the corporate culture at his companies.

Responses and Future Actions

SpaceX and Musk's attorneys have dismissed the story, stating that it contains "untruths." "The untruths, mischaracterizations, and revisionist history in your email paint a completely misleading narrative. I continue to be amazed by what this extraordinary group of people are achieving every day, even amidst all the forces acting against us. And Elon is one of the best humans I know," Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, stated in a statement.