Eight former SpaceX employees have filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging sexual harassment and a toxic workplace environment. The lawsuit paints a picture of a company mired in the “dark ages,” with Musk at the helm, fostering a culture that “treats women as sexual objects.”
A prominent figure in the business world. Image Credit: Photographer Name/Getty Images
The legal action, filed on June 12 and obtained by Us Weekly, outlines a range of allegations, including discrimination, wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, and unlawful business practices. At the heart of the lawsuit is the claim that Musk, 52, oversaw a workplace rife with sexual misconduct and a blatant disregard for the rights and well-being of female and LGBTQ+ employees.
The eight former employees — Paige Holland-Thielen, Yaman Abdulhak, Scott Beck, Rebekah Clark, Deborah Lawrence, Claire Mallon, Tom Moline, and André Nadeau — allege that they challenged the toxic environment through an open letter to management. However, instead of addressing their concerns, SpaceX fired them, with the lawsuit claiming that Musk personally ordered their terminations.
The lawsuit also takes aim at Musk’s Twitter presence, citing examples of his eyebrow-raising tweets that have caused widespread outrage. From his infamous “Pronouns suck” post to sharing an inappropriate photo of Bill Gates with a sexual caption, the former employees argue that Musk’s online behavior directly influenced the workplace culture at SpaceX.
According to the lawsuit, Musk’s tweets “immediately permeated” the workplace, with employees unable to escape them. The filing further alleges that Musk often used his Twitter account to announce company news, drawing employees’ attention to his feed and, by extension, his controversial statements. The lawsuit claims that this had the “foreseeable and intentional result” of encouraging similar behavior among employees.
A relationship in the public eye. The world has watched with fascination as a certain prominent couple navigated their unique journey together. From their initial connection to the challenges they faced, their story has captivated audiences worldwide. With their lives often playing out in the public domain, the dynamics of their relationship have been scrutinized and analyzed by many. […]
Furthermore, the lawsuit sheds light on a pervasively sexist culture within SpaceX, where engineers would allegedly apply crude and demeaning names to products as a form of humor, often targeting women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The filing provides examples, such as the “Upskirt Camera” moniker for a Falcon rocket camera and the use of terms like “Fun Tunnel” and “B-plugs” to describe other products, alluding to sexual acts.
Us Weekly has reached out to Musk’s team for comment.
This is not the first time Musk has faced scrutiny for sexual misconduct allegations. In May 2022, reports emerged of a settlement between SpaceX and a former flight attendant who accused Musk of exposing himself and offering to buy her a horse in exchange for an erotic massage. Musk denied the allegations via a social media platform, attributing them to political motivations.
The new lawsuit brings these past allegations back into the spotlight, claiming that SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell issued a company-wide email supporting Musk and discrediting the anonymous complainant. The eight former employees argue that this response undermined their right to a safe and respectful work environment, further illustrating the systemic issues within the company.
