Eight former SpaceX engineers filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The engineers claimed that Musk introduced inappropriate sexual images, memes, and comments targeting women and the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace. The complaint highlighted concerns about SpaceX’s corporate culture, alleging that Musk fostered a sexist environment within the company.
The lawsuit also mentioned a video featuring SpaceX executives, including Brian Bjelde, Gwynne Shotwell, and Musk, joking about sexual harassment. The former employees who filed the lawsuit also filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. After publishing an open letter expressing their concerns about Musk’s behavior and the company culture, they were fired. Shotwell was accused of dismissing their complaints and labeling them as “over-the-top activism.”
A report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that Musk had sexual relationships with two SpaceX employees, including a former intern who later joined his executive team. A third woman claimed that Musk repeatedly asked her to have children with him and criticized her job performance when she refused. Shotwell was also accused of making false claims about one of the women having an affair with her husband.
The lawsuit and reports shed light on the need for accountability and respectful workplace culture within companies like SpaceX.
