Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has vehemently denied allegations that he groped and exposed himself to a former flight attendant at SpaceX six years ago. The claims were brought to light in a recent report by Business Insider, which stated that SpaceX had paid the unnamed woman $250,000 to settle the matter.

The article, published on Thursday, described how the former employee had allegedly been a cabin crew member for SpaceX’s private jet fleet. According to the report, in 2016, Musk exposed his genitals and touched a flight attendant’s leg without consent while receiving a massage aboard his private jet. The report also stated that Musk allegedly offered to buy the woman a gift if she would perform sex acts.

SpaceX reportedly paid the former employee a severance settlement, prohibiting her from suing the company or discussing the incident. Business Insider also quoted an anonymous friend of the flight attendant, who claimed to have provided a signed statement during the settlement process.

Musk, however, rejected these accusations outright. In a tweet, he called the claims “wild accusations” and insisted that they were “utterly untrue.” He further labeled the Business Insider article as a “politically motivated hit piece,” suggesting that it was part of an effort to disrupt his ongoing $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. Musk has recently made headlines for shifting his political stance, notably stating that he would no longer support the Democratic Party and planned to vote for Republicans in future elections.

This news comes at a time when Tesla shares experienced a drop, possibly linked to Musk’s actions and statements. Despite the serious nature of the accusations, Musk continued his defense, accusing the friend quoted in the Business Insider report of being a “far-left activist/actress” with a political agenda. He also challenged the accuser to verify the claims by providing explicit details, including descriptions of his body parts.

Business Insider stood by its reporting, with editor-in-chief Nicholas Carlson asserting on Twitter that the story was based on documented evidence and interviews. The outlet claims to have gathered substantial material supporting the allegations.

While the details of the settlement have not been independently confirmed by other sources, the case adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Musk’s business practices and personal conduct. As Musk continues to reshape his public image, this controversy could further fuel the debate about his political affiliations, leadership style, and the ethics of his business dealings.

Read more at bbc.com

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