A company-wide email obtained by The New York Times shows a rocket maker SpaceX executive said she “personally” views the sexual harassment of the company’s founder and chief executive, Elon Musk. The allegation is false.
In an email sent Friday, SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell said she had worked closely with Mr. Musk for 20 years and had “never seen or heard any similar allegations.” She added: “Anyone who knows Elon as well as I know he would never have performed or condoned this so-called misconduct.”
Ms Shotwell speaks in an article Business Insider Last week, Musk proposed a sexual massage to a flight attendant on a 2016 flight to London. He also exposed himself to the flight attendant and gave her a horse, the article said, details not available from The New York Times.
The unidentified woman hired an employment attorney in 2018 and filed a complaint with SpaceX’s human resources department, Business Insider reported. SpaceX settled later that year, paying the woman $250,000 in exchange for a promise not to sue over the claim.
Musk tweeted last week that the allegations are “totally unreal. “
A SpaceX spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Ms Shotwell’s email, which was previously NBC Finance Channel. The two people who saw the memo shared it with The New York Times.
Read the following email from Ms. Shotwell to staff:
SpaceX Team –
I want to directly address the story of serious allegations that refer to our company and our CEO. Let me be clear – SpaceX does not tolerate harassment of any kind – I mean zero tolerance. We strongly believe that everyone at SpaceX should be treated with respect. Every accusation of harassment is taken very seriously, Regardless of who is involved. HR will thoroughly investigate all claims brought to their attention and take appropriate disciplinary action. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or our workplace, please contact me, your manager or your Human Resources representative.
Admittedly, this is a difficult topic to navigate. It’s natural to have questions and want clear answers. For privacy reasons, I will never comment on any legal matters involving employment issues. What I can share, however, is that Elon has issued a public statement via Twitter that the allegations are completely untrue. Personally, I think these allegations are false; not because I work for Elon, but because I have worked closely with him for 20 years and have never seen or heard anything like these allegations. Anyone who knows Elon as well as I know he would never engage in or condone this alleged misconduct.
I believe SpaceX is an extraordinary place to work because of you. I remain committed to making sure this is a place where all employees can do their best.
