In a recent interview, Elon Musk’s 20-year-old daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, decided to publicly respond to statements made by her father regarding her transgender identity. Musk, during a sit-down with psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson streamed on his platform X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, July 22, claimed that Wilson was “killed by the woke mind virus” and alleged he was “tricked” into consenting to her transgender-related medical treatment when she was 16. This has sparked a significant backlash, prompting Wilson to break her silence.
Wilson, who legally changed her name and gender in 2022 at the age of 18, vehemently denied Musk’s assertions in an interview with NBC News on Thursday, July 25. She referred to Musk’s comments as outright lies, emphasizing her determination to challenge them publicly. “I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged,” she stated. “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 shared that she first came out as gay in eighth grade and later as transgender at age 16. She recounted how Musk knew about the medical treatments, which included puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, and signed the necessary forms after thoroughly understanding the side effects. “He knew the full side effects,” she confirmed, adding that their relationship had been strained long before her transition. “We have not spoken in about four years,” she said, reminiscing about her childhood, where Musk was present only about 10% of the time despite having joint custody.
Wilson is one of six children Musk shares with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson. Musk also has children with singers Grimes and Shivon Zilis. Wilson took to the social media platform Threads to further address Musk’s portrayal of her childhood. Wilson referred to Musk’s recollection of her choosing clothes for him at the age of four and calling them “fabulous” as being “entirely fake.” She wrote, “This entire thing is completely made up, and there’s a reason for this. He doesn’t know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn’t there.”
Wilson accused Musk of reducing her to a stereotype to manipulate public perception. “Obviously he can’t say that, so I’ve been reduced to a happy little stereotype f*g-ing along to use at his discretion,” she added. This characterization, she argued, reveals Musk’s views on queer people and children.
Addressing Musk’s description of her as “gay and slightly autistic,” Wilson clarified that while she did exhibit feminine traits, the narrative Musk presented was fictional. “This entire thing is completely made up, and there’s a reason for this,” she wrote. “He doesn’t know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn’t there.”
Wilson emphasized the value of her independence and the necessity for her to make her own decisions in order to define her life. “I would like to emphasize one thing: I am an adult. I am 20 years old. I am not a child,” she stated firmly. “My life should be defined by my own choices.”
In her NBC News interview, Wilson described Musk as “cold” and “quick to anger,” recounting instances from her childhood where Musk’s behavior was particularly harsh. She recalled a road trip in fourth grade during which Musk berated her for having a high-pitched voice. “He was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high,” she said, describing the experience as “cruel.”
Wilson’s testimony challenges Musk’s claim that he was “tricked” into signing the medical consent forms. According to Wilson, Musk read the forms at least twice and was fully aware of their implications. “He was not by any means tricked,” she asserted.
She also addressed the lifesaving nature of puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals. “They save lives. Let’s not get that twisted,” she said. “They definitely allowed me to thrive.”
Wilson’s criticism extends to the broader societal pressures on transgender individuals seeking medical treatments. She expressed her frustration over the requirement to demonstrate a high risk of self-harm in order to receive approval for treatments, feeling that Musk and Peterson were judging her for not meeting their risk requirements. “I have been basically put into a point where, to a group of people, I have to basically prove whether or not I was suicidal or not to warrant medically transitioning,” she said. “It’s absolutely mind-boggling.”
In a pointed remark, Wilson noted that her estrangement from Musk was mutual, contradicting Musk’s narrative of disownment. “I disowned him, not the other way around,” she clarified, emphasizing her autonomy and rejection of her father’s public persona and political views.
Wilson also shared insights into her support system, particularly her mother, Justine Wilson, whom she credits with providing unwavering support. “She’s very supportive. I love her a lot,” Wilson said, contrasting her mother’s support with Musk’s absence and hostility.
The Bottom Line
In her public statements and interviews, Wilson has taken a stand not only against her father’s narrative but also against the broader stigmatization of transgender individuals. Her story underscores the importance of respecting transgender rights and the autonomy of individuals in defining their identities and making personal health decisions.
Vivian Jenna Wilson’s courage in speaking out serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly in the face of misinformation and familial estrangement. Her narrative sheds light on the need for empathy, understanding, and respect for transgender rights in a society that often seeks to undermine them.
