Alex Gibney says Elon Musk should ’embrace free speech’ as billionaire blasts documentary

TORONTO — Director Alex Gibney of the recent documentary on Elon Musk has been shocked by the businessman's harsh criticism of the film. Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has called Gibney a "horrible human" and accused him of lacking integrity while describing him as a "bitter old man who lost the plot long ago." The filmmaker's documentary, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, explores Musk's immense power and raises concerns about his ultimate objectives.

In an interview ahead of the press screening of the nearly four-hour-long "Musk," Gibney stated, "He’s sort of lost his (expletive) and threatened to sue, which is not what I’d expect from a free-speech absolutist, as he calls himself." Gibney argues that Musk should adopt free speech principles, which involve promoting the speech of people he disagrees with.

Musk has not responded to inquiries regarding the documentary. Gibney is confident in his portrayal of Musk due to the extensive research and fact-checking he conducted for the film. He emphasized that every documentary he produces undergoes rigorous vetting, with this one being particularly meticulous. Gibney's documentary includes insights from Musk's father, first wife, ex Ashley St. Clair, and experts like computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton.

Despite previous accusations from Musk labeling the film a "hit piece," Gibney maintains that thorough research and a diverse range of sources informed the documentary.