Los Angeles, California – Eight former employees of SpaceX have filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation for whistleblowing. The lawsuit, filed in California state court, claims that the plaintiffs were terminated for trying to change the workplace culture at SpaceX to comply with state and federal law.
The lawsuit accuses Musk of personally ordering the plaintiffs’ terminations and seeks to hold both SpaceX and Musk accountable for their alleged misconduct. The plaintiffs claim that they were exposed to unwanted sexual conduct and comments by Musk, creating a hostile work environment at SpaceX.
One of the main points of contention in the lawsuit is Musk’s behavior on social media, particularly on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), which he purchased for $44 billion. Musk’s tweets, including one about starting a university called the “Texas Institute of Technology & Science,” were allegedly circulated around the workplace, contributing to a sexist culture at SpaceX.
According to the lawsuit, Musk’s posts were widely discussed among SpaceX employees, with management taking no action to prevent or remove the offensive content. The plaintiffs also highlight inappropriate behavior in technical meetings, where senior engineers reportedly used crude and demeaning language.
The lawsuit references an open letter that was distributed by the plaintiffs to SpaceX executives, raising concerns about Musk’s behavior and its impact on the company’s culture. Three of the plaintiffs were chief authors of the letter, which led to their termination and subsequent investigation by SpaceX management.
SpaceX has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking accountability and restitution for the alleged harassment and retaliation they experienced while working at the company. The case underscores ongoing concerns about workplace culture and accountability in the tech industry.