Elon Musk, 53, has made dramatic claims about his child’s transition, attributing it to the influence of the “woke mind virus.” He also said that he believes “his son” is “dead” because of this influence.
In a provocative interview with Dr. Jordan Peterson this week, the Tesla and SpaceX founder alleged that he was misled into approving his now-estranged child’s use of puberty blockers.
Musk, who is the father of 12 children, shares his transgender child, Vivian Jenna Wilson, with his ex-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson.
Vivian, 20, legally changed her name and gender at the Santa Monica courthouse in California on June 22, 2022. She chose to adopt her mother’s last name, driven by her desire to distance herself from her biological father.
The then-18-year-old revealed her wish to dissociate from Musk in a petition filed on April 18, 2022, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, stating: “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
As Elon continues to share a complicated relationship with Vivian, he claimed in the July 22 interview that his “son” is now “dead.” Musk made these remarks when asked about his thoughts on performing sex change procedures on children.
“It happened to one of my older boys, where I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” he told the host, per USA Today. “This is before I had any understanding of what was going on. COVID was going on, so there was a lot of confusion and I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesn’t…”
Dr. Peterson, who also disapproves of gender-affirming care for children, responded: “That was a lie right from the outset.”
Musk agreed, saying: “Incredibly evil, and I agree with you that the people that have been promoting this should go to prison.”
The tech entrepreneur described puberty blockers as “just sterilization drugs,” adding that this was not explained to him when he gave his consent for Vivian’s treatment. He criticized the term “gender-affirming care” as a “terrible euphemism.”
Musk said: “I lost my son, essentially. They call it deadnaming for a reason. The reason it’s called deadnaming is because your son is dead. My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus,” per TMZ.
Puberty blockers, designed to pause the changes from puberty, have become a focal point of significant controversy. These medications stop the body from making sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. They can offer a respite to adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria, allowing them time to explore their identities.
However, the use of puberty blockers has also faced immense criticism. Critics have raised concerns about the long-term effects on fertility and bone density, as well as the potential for irreversible impacts.
Some view the drugs as a necessary tool for mental health and well-being, arguing that they can significantly improve the lives of transgender youth. However, others believe they can be prematurely administered without sufficient understanding of their long-term consequences.
This ongoing debate highlights the complex and contentious nature of gender-affirming care in today’s society.
