Elon Musk’s Transgender Daughter Speaks Out: "I Was Harassed for My Femininity and Queerness"
In a first-ever public interview, Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of tech mogul Elon Musk, has accused her father of being an absent and abusive parent who ridiculed her for her feminine traits and queer identity. Wilson, 20, told NBC News that Musk was rarely present in her life, leaving her and her siblings in the care of their mother or nannies despite having joint custody. When he was present, she said, "he was cold… uncaring and narcissistic." Wilson’s interview comes in response to Musk’s recent public statements in which he denied her transgender identity, calling her "not a girl" and claiming she was "dead" and "killed by the woke mind virus."
Key Takeaways:
- Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, has accused her father of being an absent and abusive parent who harassed her for her femininity and queer identity.
- Wilson disputes Musk’s claims that he was "tricked" into approving her gender-affirming medical treatment.
- Wilson, who has largely stayed out of the public eye, has broken her silence after Musk’s recent pronouncements against transgender people and policies supporting them, highlighting his hard-right turn into conservative politics.
- Wilson is not alone in her criticism of Musk’s behavior towards transgender individuals. Many have pointed out his increasingly harsh rhetoric surrounding transgender rights, including his opposition to transgender medical treatments for minors and his promotion of anti-trans content.
A History of Neglect and Abuse
Wilson alleges that Musk’s lack of support throughout her childhood was a constant source of pain. She remembers being subjected to his verbal abuse and pressure to appear more masculine. She described an instance where Musk, during a road trip that she later learned was an advertisement for one of his cars, viciously yelled at her for having a "too high" voice. "It was cruel," she said.
Wilson emphasizes the significance of her independence, stating, "I am an adult. I am 20 years old. I am not a child. My life should be defined by my own choices."
A Breakdown in Communication
While Wilson has chosen to speak out, she claims to have had little to no contact with Musk for the past four years. She notes that she submitted a court filing when she was 18 to legally change her name, stating in the court documents that she "no longer live[s] with or wish[es] to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
Though Musk has publicly discussed their relationship, Wilson says she was caught by surprise by the media attention surrounding the court filing, a move she considers a necessary step to separate herself from her father.
Musk’s Political Shift and Transphobia
Musk’s recent comments about his daughter have been viewed in the context of his increasingly vocal and harsh stance against transgender individuals and policies supporting them. He has openly questioned the validity of transgender identity, criticized healthcare for trans youth, and promoted anti-trans content on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
He has explicitly stated that his daughter’s transition motivated his political shift, claiming that he vows "to destroy the woke mind virus."
Disputed Narrative and Ongoing Controversy
Musk has presented a different narrative, alleging that he was "tricked" into signing documents for Wilson’s gender-affirming medical treatment. He claims that this decision was made under duress, without full understanding, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Wilson refutes this claim, stating that Musk read through the medical forms multiple times before signing them. She emphasizes that "He was not by any means tricked. He knew the full side effects."
In addition to addressing Musk’s claims, Wilson also challenges the portrayal of her in Walter Isaacson’s recent biography of Musk, "Elon Musk," in which she is described as a "radical Marxist." Wilson denies this characterization, stating that she is not a Marxist while still opposing wealth inequality. She also takes issue with the book’s use of her middle name, "Jenna," instead of her preferred name, "Vivian."
The Ongoing Impacts of Family Trauma
Wilson’s interview serves as a powerful testament to the lasting impact of familial trauma and the challenges of navigating complex family dynamics in the public eye. She has taken a courageous step by speaking out against the abuse and neglect she alleges she has experienced.
Her account, along with Musk’s public pronouncements, shines a light on the ongoing debates surrounding transgender rights and the role of family and support networks in navigating complex identities. While some may question the accuracy or details of their individual accounts, both offer valuable insights into the complexities of the father-daughter relationship and the deeply personal journeys of identity exploration. The public discourse surrounding these issues is likely to continue, raising vital questions about acceptance, respect, and the individual’s right to self-determination.
