Musk threatens legal action over documentary

Washington: Lawyers for tech mogul Elon Musk have issued a formal legal warning to the creators of a new documentary, alleging the film defames the multibillionaire. The letter, sent on September 3, accuses the Oscar-winning documentarian of building Musk around a predetermined conclusion and failing to fact-check the film with Musk or his close associates.

The documentary, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, traces Musk's career and life from his Silicon Valley beginnings in the early 2000s to his status as the world's first trillionaire. It also explores his personal life, including his difficult childhood and the 14 children he has fathered with various women. Critics have described the film as a "lacerating portrait" and "damning" of Musk, depicting him as petty, narcissistic, megalomaniacal, and cruel.

The letter specifically targets a sequence that alleges Musk knew early on election night 2024 that Trump had won due to his Starlink satellites being used to influence the result. Jigsaw Productions, the film's producer, defended the documentary, stating that scrutiny of powerful public figures is protected by the First Amendment.

The legal notice orders the filmmakers to preserve all aspects of the project, including footage, interview transcripts, research files, and internal communications.