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Former SpaceX Employees Sue Elon Musk
Eight former SpaceX employees have filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging sexual harassment and whistleblower retaliation, among other grievances. The lawsuit, filed in California state court in Los Angeles, claims that the employees were terminated for advocating changes to align the company’s culture with legal standards of civility.
The lawsuit alleges that Musk personally ordered the terminations, seeking to hold both SpaceX and Musk accountable for their actions. The plaintiffs claim they were exposed to unwanted sexual conduct and comments by Musk, creating a hostile work environment.
Musk’s Social Media Behavior
According to the lawsuit, much of the alleged misconduct occurred on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which Musk purchased in 2022. Musk is known for his active presence on the platform, where he has posted controversial content.
For example, in October 2021, Musk tweeted about starting a new university called the “Texas Institute of Technology & Science,” known by the acronym “TITS.” The lawsuit references this tweet and others that circulated in the workplace.
Sexist Culture at SpaceX
The lawsuit describes a “pervasively sexist culture” at SpaceX, with engineers using derogatory terms for female and LGBTQ individuals. The plaintiffs’ concerns were initially raised in an open letter distributed internally in June 2022.
Following the letter’s release, three employees were terminated as alleged authors, with five others fired later for their involvement. SpaceX management reportedly conducted an investigation to identify contributors to the letter.
Space.com contacted SpaceX for comment on the lawsuit, but no response has been received as of now.
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