Multi-billionaire Elon Musk has dismissed charges of sexually assaulting a flight attendant six years ago, denouncing a “political” plot.
“These accusations are totally false,” responded the boss of Tesla and the richest man in the world on Twitter, the social network he wants to buy, following an article published Thursday.
Independent online media The Insider reported that Mr Musk’s aerospace group, SpaceX, paid a woman $250,000 in 2018 to end an inappropriate behavior complaint filed against him.
The 50-year-old entrepreneur is accused there, while receiving a massage from this woman on a private flight en route to London, of showing her his erect penis, touching her legs without her consent and asking for a sexual act.
The article notably quotes a woman claiming to be a friend of the flight attendant.
“The attacks on me must be viewed through a political prism — it’s their (despicable) usual way of doing things,” Musk tweeted on Thursday, without specifying who he was targeting.
The attacks against me should be viewed through a political lens – this is their standard (despicable) playbook – but nothing will determine me from fighting for a good future and your right to free speech
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022
“I challenge this liar who says her friend saw me ‘discovered’: name me one thing, anything (scars, tattoos…) that is not publicly known,” he said. declared. “She can’t do it, because it never happened.”
But I have a challenge to this liar who claims their friend saw me “exposed” – describe just one thing, anything at all (scars, tattoos, …) that isn’t known by the public. She won’t be able to do so, because it never happened.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022
The South African-born boss – who has South African, American and Canadian nationalities – has lately moved closer to the Republicans, having so far backed the Democrats.
“Now watch how they unfold their dirty tricks campaign against me,” added Mr. Musk, whose fortune is estimated at some US$280 billion.
He this week shelved his offer to buy Twitter for $44 billion due to lack of clarity over the fake accounts, but said he was “still committed” to completing the deal.
Originally known as the founder of Tesla, who made his fortune, Elon Musk, a thrice-divorced father of eight, has become a central figure in American neo-capitalism with his extra-planetary ambitions and political ideals, which he relays extensively on social media.