US Media: "Elon Musk Sexually Harassed SpaceX Crew by Demanding Massages"

Insider Reports Musk Sexual Harassment Allegations from 2016
"Sexual Harassment and Exposure Settled with $250,000"
Musk Denies, Calls It "Political Media Play"

Allegations have been reported that Elon Musk sexually harassed a female flight attendant on his private jet.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Elon Musk, the world's richest man and founder of Tesla, has been accused of sexually harassing a female flight attendant on a SpaceX private jet and attempting to silence her with money, according to reports.

On the 19th (local time), foreign media including the U.S. economic outlet Insider reported that in 2016, Musk touched a female flight attendant's body without her consent and exposed his genitals on a SpaceX corporate jet. It was also reported that he made remarks that seemed to request sexual acts while receiving a massage.

According to a statement obtained by Insider, at the time of the incident, Musk requested a full-body massage from the victim in his private room on the private jet heading to London, UK. While receiving the massage, Musk, who was undressed and covered only with a towel on his lower body, touched the victim's thigh. He also told the victim, whose hobby is horseback riding, "If you do more, I'll buy you a horse," which the statement said Insider interpreted as implying a sexual act.

The victim reportedly refused Musk's demands and later confided in a friend about the stress she suffered as her assignments noticeably decreased. In the statement, she expressed, "I felt pushed out of work and harmed because I refused 'sexual acts.'"

Eventually, in 2018, the victim filed a complaint with SpaceX's HR team, claiming she was unfairly deprived of work opportunities due to the incident. In November of the same year, SpaceX reached a settlement with the victim, agreeing to pay $250,000 (approximately 316 million KRW) under a 'contract termination' agreement, with a promise not to sue Musk. The settlement included a confidentiality clause prohibiting disclosure of the financial compensation and details related to Musk.

The incident became public after a friend of the victim reported it to Insider without the victim's consent. The whistleblower stated, "A system is being established where people with wealth and power can do anything," and added, "If we remain silent, we become part of that system, allowing people like Musk to continue committing terrible acts. The truth must be revealed."

However, Musk denied the sexual harassment allegations to Insider, calling it a "politically motivated media play," and said, "If I had intended to sexually harass anyone, it would not have come to light for the first time in my 30-year career." On the same day, he tweeted, "Political attacks against me will sharply increase over the next few months," and claimed, "Attacks against me should be interpreted as politically motivated. This is a vile play they are performing."