Elon Musk denies sexual harassment claims

Subscribe to our newsletter

Elon Musk

Elon Musk says his deal to acquire Twitter is on hold until the social media company proves the accuracy of its user numbers, citing spam bots. CNN’s Brian Stelter reports.

” data-duration=”04:14″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Here’s what Elon Musk may be aiming for as he puts Twitter deal on hold” data-index=”idx-0″ data-show-name=”Quest Means Business” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/quest-means-business” data-source=”CNNBusiness” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_4235d73622bf916f0353fd4944c231f5-h_8d00be2dad768cbc2f3c1242a2ffcd62-pageTop@published” data-video-id=”business/2022/05/17/elon-musk-twitter-bots-tweet-stelter-sot-qmb-vpx.cnnbusiness” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_4235d73622bf916f0353fd4944c231f5-h_8d00be2dad768cbc2f3c1242a2ffcd62-pageTop@published”>

Now playing

Here’s what Elon Musk may be aiming for as he puts Twitter deal on hold

CNN’s Brian Stelter says Elon Musk could be trying to re-price his $44 billion bid to acquire Twitter after he tweeted the deal was on hold.

” data-duration=”02:47″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Stelter: This has all the trappings of Elon Musk negotiating” data-index=”idx-1″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNNBusiness” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_48566c944309caca72eefd450e6c3d3a” data-video-id=”business/2022/05/13/elon-musk-twitter-deal-stelter-first-move-vpx.cnnbusiness” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_48566c944309caca72eefd450e6c3d3a”>

Now playing

Stelter: This has all the trappings of Elon Musk negotiating

Twitter shares dropped after Elon Musk tweeted he was putting the $44 billion deal on hold. CNN commentator Catherine Rampell weighs in on what Musk’s motivation could be.

” data-duration=”02:40″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Elon Musk tweets that his Twitter deal is on hold” data-index=”idx-2″ data-show-name=”New Day” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/new-day” data-source=”CNNBusiness” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3aeb288a591a9ccedb5ebb3737898791″ data-video-id=”business/2022/05/13/elon-musk-twitter-deal-on-hold-vpx.cnnbusiness” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3aeb288a591a9ccedb5ebb3737898791″>

Now playing

Elon Musk tweets that his Twitter deal is on hold

Elon Musk disclosed what he’ll do about former President Trump’s permanent Twitter ban should the Tesla CEO’s $44 billion bid to acquire the company become official.

” data-duration=”01:22″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Hear Elon Musk’s plans for Trump’s Twitter ban” data-index=”idx-3″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN Business” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_d905480fe897de996f93d25798ca9092″ data-video-id=”business/2022/05/10/elon-musk-trump-twitter-ban-decision-jg-orig.cnn-business” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_d905480fe897de996f93d25798ca9092″>

Getty Images

Now playing

Hear Elon Musk’s plans for Trump’s Twitter ban

Dan Ives, managing director and senior equity research analyst at Wedbush Securities, breaks down how Tesla and Twitter investors are reacting to Elon Musk’s latest move.

” data-duration=”02:00″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Analyst: Musk leveraging Tesla stock to buy Twitter is like swapping sushi for a hot dog” data-index=”idx-4″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN Business” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_fe27231883cf6e5b79f74b6ff4d7e902″ data-video-id=”business/2022/04/27/elon-musk-twitter-tesla-markets-now.cnn-business” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_fe27231883cf6e5b79f74b6ff4d7e902″>

Now playing

Analyst: Musk leveraging Tesla stock to buy Twitter is like swapping sushi for a hot dog

Twitter’s board has accepted Elon Musk’s offer to purchase the company for $44 billion. CNN reporters Brian Stelter and Matt Egan weigh in on Musk’s quest to take over the social media company.

” data-duration=”03:50″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Elon Musk set to purchase Twitter for $44 billion” data-index=”idx-5″ data-show-name=”Newsroom” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/newsroom” data-source=”CNNBusiness” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_14ddbce08202bff051e68cc1260edeef” data-video-id=”business/2022/04/25/elon-musk-to-buy-twitter-stelter-egan-sot-newsroom-vpx.cnnbusiness” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_14ddbce08202bff051e68cc1260edeef”>

Now playing

Elon Musk set to purchase Twitter for $44 billion

Long before he was interested in buying Twitter, Elon Musk and his then-wife, Justine, told CNN in 2001 about the serial entrepreneur’s plans to step back from Silicon Valley.

” data-duration=”03:49″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Elon Musk in 2001: I’m a little tired of the internet” data-index=”idx-6″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_6e88ccbdb726b39f6c5c660527ab67ae” data-video-id=”business/2022/04/25/elon-musk-silicon-valley-interview-2001-vault-orig.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_6e88ccbdb726b39f6c5c660527ab67ae”>

Now playing

Elon Musk in 2001: I’m a little tired of the internet

Brian Stelter discusses new research into online censorship claims and the connection to Elon Musk’s bid for Twitter. Jessica Toonkel and Clare Duffy discuss what Musk and Twitter might do next.

” data-duration=”06:22″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Why conservatives are embracing Elon Musk’s Twitter move” data-index=”idx-7″ data-show-name=”Reliable Sources” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/reliable-sources” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_190586e77af56d7d018b254bb71595e2″ data-video-id=”business/2022/04/17/why-conservatives-are-embracing-elon-musks-twitter-move.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_190586e77af56d7d018b254bb71595e2″>

Now playing

Why conservatives are embracing Elon Musk’s Twitter move

Elon Musk’s interest in acquiring Twitter has been heralded on the right and greeted with trepidation on the left. CNN’s Michael Smerconish says Musk’s past words and actions suggest he’s neither a socialist nor a conservative – but a centrist.

” data-duration=”06:48″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Smerconish has a message for conservatives rallying behind Elon Musk” data-index=”idx-8″ data-show-name=”Smerconish” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/smerconish” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_06055eda1ae0b364e2fe2414ada3c43e” data-video-id=”business/2022/04/16/what-are-elon-musks-politics.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_06055eda1ae0b364e2fe2414ada3c43e”>

Now playing

Smerconish has a message for conservatives rallying behind Elon Musk

Twitter bidder Elon Musk’s own tweets are sometimes “obnoxious, like an 11-year-old boy that wasn’t raised very well,” says Kara Swisher, opinion columnist for the New York Times. But “he has proven himself to be a good executive.”

” data-duration=”04:50″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Swisher on Musk: ‘very good executive’ who sometimes tweets ‘like an 11-year-old'” data-index=”idx-9″ data-show-name=”Smerconish” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/smerconish” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_1eda998ff00eeac1e171bca6d4c7f1ca” data-video-id=”business/2022/04/16/swisher-on-musk-very-good-executive-who-sometimes-acts-like-an-11-year-old.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_1eda998ff00eeac1e171bca6d4c7f1ca”>

Now playing

Swisher on Musk: ‘very good executive’ who sometimes tweets ‘like an 11-year-old’

Late night hosts ridicule Elon Musk’s offer to buy Twitter for $43 billion, as well as Musk’s claim that he wants the social media company to be a platform for free speech.

” data-duration=”02:01″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Watch late night hosts mock Elon Musk’s offer to buy Twitter” data-index=”idx-10″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN Business” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_06d5d5cc32d021f03baa0ae935fac5b1″ data-video-id=”business/2022/04/15/late-night-hosts-reaction-on-elon-musk-twitter-orig-ht.cnn-business” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_06d5d5cc32d021f03baa0ae935fac5b1″>

Getty Images

Now playing

Watch late night hosts mock Elon Musk’s offer to buy Twitter

Elon Musk shares his vision for Twitter during an on-stage interview at a TED conference in Canada following his offer to acquire the social media company. CNN’s Brian Stelter dissects the talk.

” data-duration=”04:43″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Elon Musk calls for ‘free speech’ on Twitter” data-index=”idx-11″ data-show-name=”Quest Means Business” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/quest-means-business” data-source=”CNNBusiness” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3db72a3d318679f3f70af15d1773ee2a” data-video-id=”business/2022/04/14/elon-musk-twitter-ted-talk.cnnbusiness” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3db72a3d318679f3f70af15d1773ee2a”>

Now playing

Elon Musk calls for ‘free speech’ on Twitter

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO who just became the largest shareholder in Twitter, has been tweeting about possible changes to the company.

” data-duration=”02:17″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”See Elon Musk’s unusual tweets after becoming largest Twitter shareholder” data-index=”idx-12″ data-show-name=”Reliable Sources” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/reliable-sources” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_a95573c00db28dbbb56359ffe63ee571″ data-video-id=”business/2022/04/10/elon-musk-twitter-rs-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_a95573c00db28dbbb56359ffe63ee571″>

@elonmusk/Twitter

Now playing

See Elon Musk’s unusual tweets after becoming largest Twitter shareholder

SpaceX says Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built. Here’s everything you need to know about the vehicle Elon Musk plans to use to set up a self-sustaining city on Mars.

” data-duration=”05:11″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Elon Musk wants to get to Mars with this behemoth rocket” data-index=”idx-13″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN Business” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3d56ea634d4fdf1e48d9e17882aca921″ data-video-id=”business/2022/03/28/spacex-starship-elon-musk-mars-mc-scn-orig.cnn-business” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_3d56ea634d4fdf1e48d9e17882aca921″>

RTL

Now playing

Elon Musk wants to get to Mars with this behemoth rocket

Elon Musk shows off his dad dancing … but his dance partner is a drone. CNN’s Jeanne Moos reports.

” data-duration=”01:47″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘Something Elon can’t do’: CEO’s dance moves light up the internet” data-index=”idx-14″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_fb88383e9bfbfddd30e43e5e7ba9859d” data-video-id=”business/2022/03/24/elon-musk-drone-dancing-moos-sc-orig-pkg-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_fb88383e9bfbfddd30e43e5e7ba9859d”>

RTL

Now playing

‘Something Elon can’t do’: CEO’s dance moves light up the internet

A teenager figured out how to track the movements of Elon Musk’s private jet and posted the information on Twitter. Musk personally reached out to ask him to stop. Jack Sweeney says he is holding out for a free Tesla.

” data-duration=”07:03″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Teenager tracking Elon Musk’s jet explains why he’s doing it” data-index=”idx-15″ data-show-name=”Smerconish” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/smerconish” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_eca845d9d16881c8869b583f86878339″ data-video-id=”business/2022/02/12/teenager-tracking-elon-musks-jet-on-twitter.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_eca845d9d16881c8869b583f86878339″>

Now playing

Teenager tracking Elon Musk’s jet explains why he’s doing it


New York
CNN Business
 — 

Elon Musk denied allegations that he sexually harassed a SpaceX flight attendant in 2016 in a series of late-night tweets.

“I have a challenge to this liar who claims their friend saw me ‘exposed’ – describe just one thing, anything at all (scars, tattoos, …) that isn’t known by the public. She won’t be able to do so, because it never happened,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO tweeted early Friday morning.

The tweet comes after Business Insider reported that SpaceX paid a $250,000 settlement in 2018 after a SpaceX flight attendant alleged sexual misconduct against the billionaire.

Nicholas Carlson, the editor-in-chief of Insider, the parent publication of Business Insider, responded to Musk’s denial on Twitter.

“We stand by our story, which is based on documents and interviews and speaks for itself,” a tweeted statement reads.

Citing documents and interviews it conducted, Business Insider reported that “the attendant worked as a member of the cabin crew on a contract basis for SpaceX’s corporate jet fleet. She accused Musk of exposing his erect penis to her, rubbing her leg without consent, and offering to buy her a horse in exchange for an erotic massage.”

In his request to Insider for more time to respond to the allegations, Musk said there was “a lot more to this story.”

“If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light,” he told Business Insider. The outlet also said Musk characterized the story as a “politically motivated hit piece.”

In separate tweets, Musk later denied that he ever responded to Business Insider while they were reporting the story and attempted to link the article to his Thursday announcement that he “will vote Republican” and his attempt to acquire Twitter — a deal he recently put “on hold.”

“Did you actually respond to the reporters from BI?” one user tweeted at Musk.

“No,” Musk responded, “it was clear that their only goal was a hit price (sic) to interfere with the Twitter acquisition. The story was written before they even talked to me.”

“They began brewing attacks of all kinds as soon as the Twitter acquisition was announced,” Musk added in a separate tweet. “In my 30 year career, including the entire MeToo era, there’s nothing to report, but, as soon as I say I intend to restore free speech to Twitter & vote Republican, suddenly there is.”

The publication reached out to Musk about the story in question before he tweeted about voting Republican, according to John Cook, the investigations editor at Insider.

“For those interested, we reached out to the principals for comment regarding this story at ~9 a.m. eastern yesterday (Wednesday May 18),” Cook said on Twitter.

Musk’s tweet declaring his voting intentions was posted at 2:44 pm ET on Wednesday, though he also made comments to that effect in a virtual interview posted to YouTube on May 16.

The Business Insider article states that it “extended the deadline and reiterated the offer to Musk to comment on the claims. He did not respond.”

SpaceX did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.


Read More