Elon Musk is reportedly initiating legal proceedings against a documentary featuring him, following its highly anticipated premiere this week. Musk criticized director Alex Gibney on social media, labeling him as a “terrible person.” The documentary titled Musk, showcased at the Venice Film Festival, garnered a standing ovation lasting five minutes.
Described by critics as a four-hour insightful exploration into a man who has established a career as a controversial figure and the head of a trillion-dollar tech conglomerate through various ventures, changing tech promises, and connections with influential individuals like former U.S. President Donald Trump. The Guardian labeled it as an “epic examination of the wealthiest yet most mundane man in the world,” while Deadline portrayed Musk as “vindictive, self-absorbed, power-hungry, emotionally distant from individuals at a personal level (including numerous ex-partners and many offspring) while purportedly striving to safeguard humanity by colonizing Mars,” asserting it as “the criticism he justly merits.”
The documentary is set to premiere in Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14. Musk initially denounced the documentary as a “smear campaign” when it was announced in 2023, a sentiment he has reiterated on social media over the past week.
Elon Musk has been actively responding on social media, agreeing with supporters who criticize the documentary, deeming the film as “tedious,” and accusing Gibney of being “untrustworthy” and a “resentful elder who has lost touch with reality,” among other disparaging remarks. Musk’s attorney, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to the production, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, issuing a formal legal warning and indicating that legal action would be pursued unless the production corroborates their information with credible sources.
Jigsaw Productions released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter defending the documentary’s accuracy and asserting that Musk should support the film’s right to scrutinize influential figures, advocating for “unrestricted freedom of speech.”
Efforts to reach Spiro and Jigsaw Productions by CBC News remained unanswered at the time of publication.
The documentary director, Gibney, known for his investigative films on various subjects, expressed in Venice before the premiere that he views Musk as a significant threat to democracy. It is uncertain whether Musk has viewed the documentary. In the film, an AI representation of Musk recites quotes attributed to him in the past, a deliberate choice to illustrate “the truth of his actions and the fiction of his narrative.”
The documentary delves into Musk’s journey from his upbringing in South Africa to his progression through startups like Zip2 and PayPal, leading to his ventures at Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X, and his aspirations in AI. It also explores his association with Trump and his tumultuous involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency, where he played a role in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a move linked to numerous global fatalities.
The film primarily focuses on Tesla and its safety assertions concerning self-driving technology, examining legal disputes and Musk’s changing assertions regarding the functionality and security of the technology in his pursuit of a fully autonomous vehicle.
Key figures interviewed in the documentary include Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard, Musk’s former wife Justine Musk, neurologist Sam Harris, tech journalist Kara Swisher, and former USAID administrator Samantha Power. Additionally, Ashley St. Clair, a former prominent conservative influencer and ex-partner of Musk with whom she shares a child born in 2024, made an appearance in the film. St. Clair alleged at the Venice Film Festival that she was offered $40 million USD to sign a nondisclosure agreement and refrain from participating in the documentary.
Musk refuted reports of offering St. Clair money, dismissing her claims as unfounded. The documentary also delves into Musk’s influence at X and alleged manipulation of the platform’s algorithm. Wired reporter Zoe Schiffer, featured in the film, stated that Musk has tailored the algorithm in favor of “the more provocative comments and voices” on the platform.
St. Clair contended that Musk is fueling conflict and “deliberately promoting division that could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.” The film is slated for a limited theatrical release in North America on October 16, followed by a wider distribution on October 23.
