Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, publicly accuses him of being an absent and cruel father. She reveals that Musk harassed her for her femininity and queer identity, and rarely spent time with his children despite having joint custody. Wilson’s accusations come as Musk faces criticism for his conservative political stance.
Wilson Calls Musk an Absent and Cruel Father
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, criticized her father in her first public interview. She described him as an absent and cruel figure during her childhood, particularly regarding her queer and feminine identity.
Musk’s Controversial Comments on Wilson’s Identity
Wilson, now 20, responded to Musk’s recent remarks about her transgender identity. Musk had stated that she was “not a girl” and claimed he was “tricked” into authorizing her trans-related medical treatment at 16.
Wilson Refutes Musk’s Claims
Wilson disputed Musk’s claims, asserting that he was fully aware of his actions when he consented to her treatment. She stated that Musk’s recent comments crossed a line and she felt compelled to respond publicly.
A Lifetime of Absence and Harassment
Wilson recounted that Musk had been largely absent throughout her life. She described him as cold, quick to anger, and often harassing her for exhibiting feminine traits.
Childhood Harassment
Wilson shared a specific incident from her childhood where Musk pressured her to deepen her voice. She recalled a road trip where he constantly yelled at her for her high-pitched voice, describing the experience as cruel.
Lack of Support and Presence
Wilson emphasized Musk’s lack of support and presence in her life, leaving her care mostly to her mother and nannies. She noted that even when present, Musk was often berating her.
Family Background and Custody
Wilson and her twin brother were born to Musk’s first wife, Justine Musk. Despite sharing custody after their 2008 divorce, Wilson said Musk was rarely involved in their lives.
Musk’s Wealth and Political Influence
Musk, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, is CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX. He has recently become a significant political figure, endorsing former President Donald Trump for another term.
Wilson’s College Life and Court Case
Now a college student studying languages, Wilson has largely stayed out of the public eye. She gained attention in 2022 when she sought court approval to change her name and disavowed her father.
Standing by Her Decision
Wilson stands by her decision to distance herself from Musk, despite the media attention it attracted. She emphasized that she is an adult and wants her life defined by her own choices.
Musk’s Public Statements
Musk recently discussed their relationship in an interview, rejecting Wilson’s gender identity. He referred to her using her birth name and claimed she was “killed by the woke mind virus.”
False Childhood Anecdotes
Musk alleged Wilson was “born gay and slightly autistic,” sharing childhood anecdotes that Wilson denies. She clarified that Musk was not present enough to know her childhood behaviors.
Wilson’s Response on Social Media
Wilson addressed Musk’s comments on Threads, stating he was largely absent and harassed her for her femininity and queerness. She criticized Musk’s reduction of her identity to stereotypes.
Musk’s Shift to Conservative Politics
Musk has recently aligned with conservative politics, opposing transgender rights and policies. He announced the relocation of his businesses from California in protest of a new state law supporting trans kids.
Rolling Back Protections
Since acquiring Twitter, Musk has rolled back protections for trans individuals, including the ban on deadnaming. He stated that Wilson’s transition motivated his conservative political stance.
Inaccuracies in Musk’s Biography
Wilson criticized the portrayal of her in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. She denied being a Marxist and opposed wealth inequality, challenging the book’s depiction of her politics.
Lack of Direct Contact from Isaacson
Wilson noted that Isaacson did not reach out to her directly before publishing the biography. Isaacson claimed he attempted contact through family members.
Absence Without Explanation
Wilson expressed confusion over Musk’s lack of presence in her and her siblings’ lives. She noted that despite having half custody, Musk was rarely around, which she now sees as strange.
Realization of Abnormality
Reflecting on her childhood, Wilson realized that Musk’s minimal involvement was not normal. She estimates he was present only about 10% of the time, a fact she didn’t fully grasp until later.
Coming Out Twice
Wilson came out as gay in eighth grade and as transgender at 16. She doesn’t recall Musk’s response to her first coming out and was living with her mother when he learned about her transgender identity during the pandemic.
Supportive Mother
Wilson praised her mother’s support during her transition. She mentioned that living with her mother during the pandemic allowed her to escape Musk’s cruelty.
Legal and Medical Process
Wilson explained that under California law, she needed consent from both parents for her medical treatment at 16. Despite initial resistance, Musk eventually signed the necessary documents after careful review.
Life-Saving Treatments
Wilson credited puberty blockers and hormone-replacement therapy with saving her life. She emphasized the importance of these treatments for transgender individuals.
The Onerous Process
Wilson highlighted the challenges in obtaining transgender-related treatments, noting the pressure on teenagers to demonstrate extreme risk of self-harm. She criticized the judgment she felt from Musk and others regarding her medical decisions.
Defending Her Choices
Wilson expressed frustration over having to justify her need for medical transition. She described the situation as “mind-boggling” and felt unfairly judged by some for not being at high enough risk.
