Following Elon Musk’s public dismissal of allegations against him, former employees joined forces in 2022 to voice concerns about his behavior and the company’s culture in an open letter. They claim Musk pursued sexual relationships with women working at SpaceX, according to recent reports.
Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Recently, terminated engineers from SpaceX filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk in a California state court. The lawsuit escalates their legal battle against the billionaire CEO and his aerospace company, accusing Musk of sexual harassment and retaliatory actions.
The plaintiffs assert that Musk intentionally fostered a hostile work environment by sharing inappropriate sexual content within the workplace, leading to discomfort and harassment directed at female and LGBTQ+ employees. The lawsuit alleges that Musk’s behavior, which included posting offensive material on social media, created an unwelcome and hostile atmosphere at SpaceX.
Retaliation Claims and Alleged Dismissals
The former employees also allege retaliation after speaking out against Musk’s conduct. They claim Musk personally intervened to have them fired in response to their activism, disregarding procedural concerns raised by human resources.
SpaceX has not responded immediately to requests for comment on the lawsuit. Previously, the company denied any wrongdoing and stated that the fired employees violated company policies. SpaceX also asserted that Musk was not involved in the decision to terminate the plaintiffs.
Legal and Public Reactions
This lawsuit follows earlier complaints filed by the same employees with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing SpaceX of unlawful retaliation. While NLRB prosecutors supported their claims, SpaceX challenged the agency’s jurisdiction in court, resulting in a temporary halt to the case.
Separately, allegations reported by the Wall Street Journal accused Musk of making sexual advances towards women at SpaceX, including an incident involving a former intern. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell criticized the article, calling it inaccurate and defending Musk’s character.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
In the new state court lawsuit, Musk is personally named as a defendant, citing his alleged control over personnel decisions at SpaceX and his public statements about misconduct allegations. The lawsuit highlights SpaceX’s internal culture, including claims that company executives participated in videos that trivialized sexual misconduct.
The plaintiffs had previously approached California’s Civil Rights Department, which recently issued them “right to sue” letters, enabling them to proceed with their lawsuit.
Elon Musk has consistently denied any wrongdoing in response to these allegations.