Controversy erupted when Vivian Wilson abruptly walked out of an interview at an event in Ibiza, Spain, after a journalist referred to her father and billionaire businessman Elon Musk as “the best.” The incident occurred on Tuesday during a Desigual Vintage event and was captured on video that later circulated on social media, sparking intense reactions.
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Elon Musk: My child was “killed by the woke mind virus”
The 22-year-old trans model appeared cheerful at the beginning of the interview, until the Spanish journalist brought up the Tesla founder, who has previously stated that his child was “killed by the woke mind virus.”
“Your father, the best, right?” the journalist asked her. Wilson, whose mother is Musk’s first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, looked visibly surprised and responded: “Who? Sorry?” When the journalist repeated his phrase saying “The best, your father,” she replied curtly: “Okay,” before walking away annoyed, ending the interview.
Divided reactions on social media
After the video was posted on social networks, user reactions were divided. Some argued that Wilson’s fame is entirely due to her father.
“She doesn’t want to acknowledge that doors open because of who her father is,” wrote one user.
Another commented: “Having your father be the only reason the world knows you. Using it to make money. And getting angry when someone mentions him.”
Others, however, sided with Wilson. One commenter wrote: “I would do the same if my father constantly called me by my old name and said I died because of the ‘woke mind virus.'”
Another commented: “Why ask her about her personal life when they know it’s such an uncomfortable topic for her?”
Another user noted: “Yes, he specifically said ‘I lost my son to the woke mind virus’ referring to Vivian and the fact that she’s trans. Vivian has also spoken openly about what a bad father he was and how many of the ‘stories’ he’s told about his children’s childhoods are completely false.”
Public clashes between father and daughter
In 2024, Wilson described her father as “absent” and “narcissistic.”
Wilson, who was named Xavier Musk at birth, launched a fierce attack against her father, accusing him of being absent from her life, “cruel,” “quick-tempered,” and intimidating her for being queer. These statements came after Musk’s claims that she “is not a girl” and is metaphorically “dead.”
The public confrontation between the two came to light two years earlier, when Wilson stated in court documents that she “no longer wishes to be associated” with her father and proceeded with the legal change of both her name and gender.
Elon Musk’s statements about estrangement from his daughter
Elon Musk spoke publicly for the first time in 2023 about his estrangement from his daughter, calling her a “communist” and attributing her political views to the expensive private school she attended.
“She went beyond socialism and became fully communist, believing that anyone who is rich is evil,” Musk told author Walter Isaacson, attributing part of the blame to Crossroads, the private K-12 school in Santa Monica, where annual tuition reaches up to $50,000.
The SpaceX founder continued the public confrontation by claiming he was tricked by the “woke mind virus” into allowing one of his children to become a trans woman, during his interview with Canadian psychologist and author Jordan Peterson.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older sons, Xavier,” he said using Vivian’s old name.
“This happened before I understood what was really going on and there was the COVID pandemic, so there was a lot of confusion. I was told that Xavier might commit suicide,” he stated.
