In a fiery response on his X platform (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk vehemently refuted claims made by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in a recent article that alleged concerns among company executives about his use of illegal drugs.
The WSJ article, titled “Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX,” detailed purported worries among Tesla and SpaceX executives regarding Musk’s behaviour and alleged drug use. Musk, known for his unapologetic and unconventional approach, responded to the accusations with a reference to a 2018 interview with Joe Rogan, where he smoked marijuana on camera.
“After that one puff with Rogan, I agreed, at NASA’s request, to do three years of random drug testing. Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol,” Musk clarified, dismissing the claims made by the WSJ. He went on to express his disdain for the publication, stating, “@WSJ is not fit to line a parrot cage for the bird,” accompanied by a “poop” emoji.
The WSJ article suggested that Musk’s alleged drug use included not only cannabis but also ketamine (for which he claims a legal prescription), LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms. The report further claimed that Musk’s brother, Kimbal, and at least one current SpaceX board member had taken drugs with him at private parties.
While the article emphasised the potential impact of Musk’s behaviour on his businesses, particularly SpaceX’s $14 billion in government contracts, it acknowledged uncertainties about the root causes of Musk’s actions. Some insiders reportedly attributed his behaviour to issues such as lack of sleep, being on the autism spectrum, or his self-diagnosed bipolar disorder.
In response to concerns raised after the Rogan incident, SpaceX reportedly implemented measures, including random drug testing with dogs on company property and warning employees about adhering to company rules outside the office.
Despite the allegations, Musk’s supporters on X, his social media platform, condemned the WSJ article as a “hit piece.” Think-tank director Jeffrey Tucker characterised it as “the kind of vicious thing you would expect to see in East Germany or the old Soviet Union.”
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s vehement denial and dismissal of the WSJ article will quell the concerns raised by the media report or if further scrutiny of his personal and professional life will follow.
