A public disagreement has unfolded between tech billionaire Elon Musk and his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, highlighting complex family dynamics and differing views on gender identity.
The Beginning of the Controversy
The controversy began when Musk, 53, made comments about Wilson during an interview with psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed he had “lost his son” and alleged he was “tricked” into allowing Wilson to undergo transgender-related medical treatment at age 16.
“I lost my son, essentially,” Musk stated. “They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Vivian Jenna Wilson’s Response
Wilson, now 20, strongly refuted her father’s statements in a subsequent interview with NBC News. “I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged,” she said. “Which I’m not going to do, because if you’re going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I’m not just gonna let that slide.”
Wilson asserted that Musk “knew the full side effects” of her medical treatment, which she says involved puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy. She also challenged Musk’s portrayal of their relationship, stating, “He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time. That’s generous. He had half custody, and he fully was not there.”
Social Media Reactions
On social media, Wilson further addressed Musk’s public statements about her, describing some of his claims as “entirely fake.” Responding to Musk’s tweet that she “was born gay and slightly autistic” and would pick out “fabulous” clothes for him at age 4, Wilson wrote:
“This is entirely fake. Like, literally none of this ever happened. Ever. I don’t even know where he got this from. My best guess is that he went to the Milo [Yiannopoulos] school of gay stereotypes, just picked some at random and said ‘eh- good enough’ in a last-ditch attempt to garner sympathy points when he is so obviously in the wrong even in his own story.”
She added, “He doesn’t know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn’t there, and in the little time that he was I was relentlessly harassed for my femininity and queerness.”
Broader Implications
This public disagreement has sparked discussions about family acceptance, gender identity, and the impact of high-profile figures’ statements on LGBTQ+ issues. While Musk has faced criticism for his comments, Wilson has received support from many for speaking out.
Family Challenges
Parenting 12 children is undeniably challenging, and Elon Musk faced particular difficulties with one of his eldest children, Vivian Jenna Wilson, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson. Vivian, formerly known as Xavier, underwent a significant personal transformation. According to an excerpt, at 16, Vivian texted the wife of Musk’s brother, revealing, “Hey, I’m transgender, and my name is now Jenna. Don’t tell my dad.”
In June 2020, the court approved Vivian’s request to legally change her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson. During this process, she decided to adopt her mother, Justine Musk’s, maiden name. The court also recognized her gender as female and ordered the issuance of a new birth certificate to reflect these changes.
Ongoing Complexities
Vivian’s statement, expressing her desire to no longer be associated with her father, Elon Musk, suggests that there may be ongoing personal and familial complexities within their relationship.
A Noteworthy Incident
Speaking of Elon Musk and public controversies, it’s worth revisiting another intriguing incident from a year ago that still raises questions about the future of technology and public relations, where pictures of him making out with a robot took the internet by storm out of nowhere.
