Elon Musk Accused of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct at SpaceX
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has been accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by three women colleagues, according to a bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal. The report details allegations of inappropriate behavior and a culture of harassment within the company.
One woman, who worked at SpaceX, claimed that Musk repeatedly invited her to his house at night via text messages. She alleges that he sent persuasive texts, saying things like, “Come by!” and “Look, it’s either me or 6am [exercise] :)”. When she did not respond, Musk reportedly sent more messages, including, “Just finished the Model 3 production call. It’s def going to be hell for several more months.” and “Are you coming over? If not, I will probably tranq out. Too stressed to sleep naturally.”
Another woman alleged that Musk repeatedly asked her to have his children, and when she refused, she was denied a raise and asked to improve her work. A third woman accused SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell of requesting her removal from the CEO’s office after complaining about her relationship with Musk.
The Wall Street Journal’s investigation, which was based on interviews with over 48 individuals and supported by text messages, emails, and other documents, paints a disturbing picture of a culture of harassment and inappropriate behavior within SpaceX. Musk declined to comment on the allegations, while Shotwell disputed the portrayal of SpaceX’s work environment, saying that the company handles such matters with the required caution and sensitivity.
These allegations follow previous reports of a “culture of sexual harassment” within SpaceX, including instances of groping and inappropriate behavior. Additionally, allegations of misconduct on Musk’s private jet have surfaced, further adding to concerns about workplace culture. SpaceX is currently under investigation by California’s civil rights agency over claims of gender discrimination and retaliation against whistleblowers.
