Elon Musk recently shared insights into his strained relationship with his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. The Tesla CEO revealed that his 20-year-old daughter, who came out as transgender and sought gender-affirming care, has distanced herself from him.
Musk attributes the rift to what he calls the “woke mind virus,” expressing that in his eyes, Vivian was “killed” by this phenomenon.
Confusion During COVID-19
In a recent interview, Musk explained that he was “tricked” into signing documents allowing Vivian to undergo gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He recounted, “This was before I had any understanding of what was going on, and there was a lot of confusion. I was told she might commit suicide if I didn’t sign.”
Deadnaming and Gender Identity
Reflecting on the situation, Musk remarked, “I lost my son, essentially.” He discussed the act of deadnaming, which involves using a transgender person’s birth name, saying, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Musk is determined to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus,” stating, “I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that, and we’re making some progress.”
Vivian Cuts Ties
In 2022, Vivian legally changed her name and severed ties with Musk due to her gender identity and their fractured relationship. “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form,” she stated in her petition.
Musk’s Relationship with His Other Children
Despite the estrangement from Vivian, Musk maintains strong bonds with his other children. He shares late son Nevada Alexander Musk, Vivian’s twin brother Griffin Musk, and 16-year-old triplets Kai Musk, Saxon Musk, and Damian Musk with his ex-wife Justine.
He also has three children—X Æ A-Xii, 4, Exa Dark Sideræl, 2, and Techno Mechanicus, whose birth was confirmed in 2023—with ex-partner Grimes, as well as three kids—2-year-old twins Strider and Azure and a third baby born in March—with partner Shivon Zilis.
Concerns Over Gender-Affirming Care
Elon Musk has voiced strong concerns over the use of puberty blockers in minors. He recounted how he felt pressured into giving consent for Vivian’s transition.
In a conversation with Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, Musk described the pressure he faced: “I was told Xavier might commit suicide if I didn’t sign. This was incredibly evil.”
Critique of the “Woke Mind Virus”
Elon Musk has been vocal against what he terms the “woke mind virus,” which he believes threatens modern civilization.
He even cited this as a motivation for purchasing the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to combat divisive identity politics.
Understanding Puberty Blockers
According to Scientific American, puberty blockers, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHas), are hormonal medications that temporarily halt the production of sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone with minimal side effects.
In 2022, Vivian came out as transgender and legally changed her name from Xavier, stating, “I no longer want to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.”
Support for J.K. Rowling’s Views
Author J.K. Rowling recently voiced skepticism about early medical interventions for gender dysphoria, suggesting that most children outgrow it if allowed to go through puberty.
Supporting her, Musk noted that almost every child experiences some form of identity crisis during puberty. “It is deeply wrong to make them permanently infertile with puberty blockers,” he wrote. “If they still wish to transition as adults, they can then make informed decisions.”
Elon Musk’s public remarks about his relationship with his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, highlight the complexities and challenges of maintaining family bonds amid societal and personal changes.
While Elon Musk maintains strong connections with his other children, his stance on gender-affirming care and his campaign against the “woke mind virus” reflect broader societal debates on identity, healthcare, and parental rights.
