Elon Musk was accused of sexual misconduct after allegedly exposing himself to a SpaceX flight attendant.
The attendant was a contract member of SpaceX's corporate fleet, Business Insider. Musk allegedly rubbed the flight attendant's leg without permission and proposed buying her a horse if she gave him an intimate massage onboard the plane.
Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on February 10, 2022. - Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk delivered an eagerly-awaited update on SpaceX's Starship, a prototype rocket the company is developing for crewed interplanetary exploration.
Elon Musk 'Exposes' Himself to SpaceX Flight Attendant
The details of the story from the Insider's report were from a declaration signed by the friend of the SpaceX flight attendant in support of the latter's claim.
The flight attendant declined to speak. Insider knows the identity of the flight attendant but did not identify her since she claimed to have been the victim of sexual misbehavior. Insider did not identify the friend either.
During a massage on a trip to London in 2016, the flight attendant claimed that the 50-year-old made a move on her. Elon Musk allegedly stroked her leg, touched her without permission, and offered her presents in exchange for an erotic massage.
"He whipped out his penis, it was erect," the friend told Insider about the alleged incident.
Musk frequently had massages on his private planes, she added, and her buddy earned a massage license so she could work with Musk more frequently, reports added. According to a friend, the woman massaged Musk on multiple flights before the incident.
The woman was giving Musk a massage on a trip to London when he disrobed and exposed himself. According to a friend, Musk offered to purchase the woman, an avid horse rider, a horse in return for sexual pleasure.
The woman declined Musk and ultimately left the room. The flight attendant told her friend about the incident shortly after the trip.
However, the flight attendant felt "punished" by SpaceX after she allegedly turned down Musk's overtures. She noticed that she had fewer shifts.
She hired an employment lawyer from California and sent a complaint to SpaceX's human resources department. The attendant's complaint was quickly resolved and didn't reach an arbitration proceeding or a court of law.
Both parties reached an agreement in 2018 following a mediation session Musk attended.
The flight attendant was compensated $250,000 as part of a severance agreement. The alleged victim also promised not to sue Musk over the claims.
Elon Musk's Response To The Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Insider contacted Musk about the story and the billionaire asked for more time, citing there is "a lot more to this story," and claiming that it was "politically motivated." But he didn't go into detail.
"If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light," he said in an email to Insider.
Insider extended the deadline for Musk to comment on the claim, but the SpaceX and Tesla CEO never responded.
Elon Musk's tweets were sent out immediately after the publication reached for comment, giving the impression that he was trying to get ahead of the story by preparing people not to accept the next accusation leveled against him, an editor from Insider said, per The Verge.
The phrases recall Musk's Wednesday tweet. He warned his fans that "political attacks on me will escalate dramatically in coming months." He also said he would be the target of a "dirty tricks campaign."
Political attacks on me will escalate dramatically in coming months
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022
In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022
But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.
Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold … 🍿
Meanwhile, Christopher Cardaci, SpaceX's VP of Legal, declined to comment.
"I'm not going to comment on any settlement agreements," he said, per Daily Mail.
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