The billionaire and CEO Elon Musk is once again at the center of serious allegations regarding inappropriate behavior towards female employees of his company SpaceX. Several women report sexual assaults and inappropriate behavior by the founder and CEO.
According to a former SpaceX intern, Musk began repeatedly messaging her and often invited her to his home starting in 2017, after she took a full-time position at the company. This woman, who had already met Musk during an internship at SpaceX, told friends that she increasingly felt uncomfortable during her employment at SpaceX, which ultimately led her to leave the company in 2019.
Further Reports Accuse Musk of Inappropriate Behavior Towards Other Female Employees. A Former SpaceX Flight Attendant Claims Musk Exposed Himself to Her in 2016 and Offered Her a Horse in Exchange for Sexual Acts. Another Woman Claims Musk Repeatedly Asked Her if She Would Bear His Children.
These allegations cast a disturbing light on the corporate culture at SpaceX. Former executives and employees, who were dismissed in 2022 following complaints to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), report a culture in which company rules do not apply to Musk and he can act with impunity. "Elon is SpaceX, and SpaceX is Elon," a former engineer quoted a senior executive.
Currently, Musk is also the subject of legal disputes over his relationship with Microsoft and OpenAI. Just recently, he withdrew a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, in which he had alleged a breach of contractual and fiduciary duties.
Despite these allegations, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell defends the company culture. She called the media reports "false" and "distorted" and emphasized that SpaceX thoroughly investigates all complaints and takes appropriate action.
Musk himself has not responded to inquiries regarding these allegations. Nevertheless, earlier reports about his behavior, including the use of illegal drugs, have raised concerns among some executives and board members of SpaceX and Tesla.
These revelations come from conversations with more than four dozen people, including former employees, acquaintances of Musk and their families, as well as from the examination of emails, text messages, and other documents.
The growing attention to the behavior of leaders in the workplace since the MeToo era has also led to increased scrutiny at SpaceX. Musk, who co-founded the company in 2015 and has since played a central role, is now facing increasing criticism of his leadership style and personal behaviors.
