Elon Musk Denounces 'Musk' Documentary as a 'Hit Piece' and Its Director as 'Horrible'
Elon Musk has launched a fierce critique against the recently premiered documentary about him, titled 'Musk,' dismissing it as a 'hit piece' and finding it 'boring.' The four-hour film, directed by Alex Gibney, debuted at the Venice Film Festival to generally positive reviews and a standing ovation. It delves into the life and controversies of the world's wealthiest individual, exploring his political evolution, ambitious projects like the Mars mission and Tesla's self-driving cars, and his intricate relationships with the mothers of his fourteen children. Musk's strong reactions were voiced on X, where he accused the director of bias and a lack of integrity.
The documentary, which has garnered considerable attention, attempts to unravel the multifaceted persona of Elon Musk. It covers significant aspects of his journey, including his political leanings, particularly his shift towards supporting MAGA, the various controversies that have shadowed his endeavors, such as the ambitious 'Occupy Mars' mission and the developments around Tesla's self-driving technology. Additionally, the film examines his personal life, focusing on his often-tumultuous relationships with the mothers of his numerous offspring. Despite the film's positive reception at the festival, Musk's public denouncement has added another layer to the discourse surrounding the documentary.
Musk's online rebuttal began shortly after the film's premiere when he started responding to posts on X (formerly known as Twitter). In one such reply, commenting on a video of director Alex Gibney at the press conference, Musk stated that 'dogshit is worth more respect' than Gibney, unequivocally expressing his disdain. He further elaborated in another post, alleging that Gibney had simply 'assembled a hit list of people who either have an axe to grind or don’t even know me (but still have an axe to grind),' concluding his criticism by labeling Gibney a 'Horrible human' with 'ZERO integrity.' It remains uncertain whether Musk himself has viewed the entire documentary.
The film features an array of interviews with individuals closely connected to Musk, including his first spouse, Justine Musk, and his father, Errol Musk. Also featured is Ashley St. Clair, identified as the mother of his thirteenth child, who publicly stated during the film's press conference in Venice that she was offered a $40 million non-disclosure agreement by Musk after the birth of their child, Romulus, last year. St. Clair emphasized her motivation for speaking out, saying, 'I want to set the example for my kids that we should never take being materially comfortable that we’re speaking the truth.' Musk, in response to a TMZ article about St. Clair's claims, refuted them on X, asserting, 'She was never offered that and has a history of making false claims.'
Musk reiterated his criticism of the documentary, describing it as 'a hit piece that misses, and makes the fatal sin of being boring for 4 hours,' a sentiment he had previously expressed when the film was first announced in 2023. At the press conference, Gibney explained that his initial attempt to interview Musk for the documentary was unsuccessful. The director also mentioned that the film's scope expanded as Musk's profile grew, particularly concerning his involvement with Donald Trump and the political landscape of the United States. Due to Musk's refusal to participate, Gibney's team resorted to creating an AI avatar of Musk to deliver his past statements within the film. 'Musk' is slated for release in U.S. theaters on October 16, distributed by Bleecker Street. As of the time of reporting, representatives for the documentary and director Gibney have not issued a response to Musk's latest comments.
The controversy surrounding the 'Musk' documentary highlights the ongoing tension between public figures and media portrayals. Elon Musk's strong disapproval of the film, coupled with his specific allegations against director Alex Gibney, underscores his perception of the documentary as a biased and unengaging work. The film's inclusion of personal testimonies, such as that of Ashley St. Clair, further complicates the narrative, presenting a deeply personal dimension to the public's understanding of the tech mogul. This clash of perspectives sets the stage for public debate as the film prepares for its wider release, prompting audiences to consider the various angles presented in this comprehensive examination of one of the world's most influential and controversial figures.
