Elon Musk is threatening legal action against filmmaker Alex Gibney following the premiere of a documentary about the billionaire at the Venice Film Festival. In a legal letter sent before the film aired on Tuesday night, an attorney for Musk accused the production of relying on hostile witnesses with personal grudges against the tech titan.
The legal notice, written by attorney Alex Spiro, targets the nearly four-hour documentary titled Musk, which explores the executive's rise and influence over public discourse. Spiro claimed the production team ignored multiple attempts by Musk's representatives to correct facts and clarify the narrative before presenting the project to festival audiences.
"While we are ardent supporters of the First Amendment, and respect the reporting process, it has become abundantly clear that the motivations behind this piece are not the pursuit of truth, but something far different," Spiro wrote in the letter. "This project did not begin as an inquiry. It began with a conclusion."
Legal Notice and Fact-Checking Claims
Spiro alleged that the documentary relies heavily on testimony from individuals who hold personal grievances against Musk. According to the letter, those interviewed include "an estranged parent, a former friend who broke with him publicly, and a former partner whose allegations surfaced in the midst of a contested custody and support dispute with him."
Musk's strained relationship with his father, Errol Musk, is widely documented. The billionaire also had a public falling out with conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, 26, who is the mother of one of his children. St. Clair attended court in Manhattan last year for a paternity hearing involving Musk, and the two were previously photographed together at Twitter headquarters in May 2023.
The legal letter states that representatives for Musk attempted to contact the filmmakers on several occasions during production. Spiro accused the production team of refusing to participate in standard editorial review procedures prior to the screening in Italy.
"As you know, we have attempted to contact you multiple times and requested an opportunity to present the facts in the normal fact-checking process that is the hallmark of ethical journalism. You have refused to engage," the letter states. "As you also know, multiple individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the true state of affairs regarding Mr Musk have contacted you asking to be heard. You have refused to engage."
"Because you have refused to screen the film, refused to fact-check it with us, and refused the witnesses who came to you, we have every reason to expect that it contains further statements about Mr Musk that you know to be false, or whose falsity you have deliberately chosen not to investigate," Spiro added. "We therefore have no choice but to put you on formal legal notice regarding your upcoming “piece” and to reserve all rights. Our door is open if you decide to check your facts with the people who know them. If not, we will proceed accordingly."
Social Media Reactions and Criticisms
Following the festival screening, Musk launched a series of public attacks against Gibney on social media platform X. The entrepreneur accused the director of lacking professional standards and assembling a commentary team biased against him.
"Dogs**t is worth more respect than Gibney," Musk posted on X. In a subsequent message, he added: "Gibney just assembled a hit list of people who either have an axe to grind or don’t even know me (but still have an axe to grind). He has ZERO integrity. Horrible human."
Musk further criticized the length and tone of the production, calling it "a hit piece that misses, and makes the fatal sin of being boring for 4 hours."
Documentary Background and Context
Gibney, an Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker, began production on the documentary in 2023. The film traces Musk's trajectory from his early technology ventures to his role as chief executive officer of electric vehicle maker Tesla, founder of aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, and owner of social media company X, examining how his platform and wealth affect global politics and public debate.
Gibney's production company, Jigsaw Productions, has previously produced investigative documentaries analyzing major corporate, political, and cultural institutions. The Venice Film Festival, held annually in Italy, serves as one of the premier international venues for debuting major cinematic works and non-fiction films.
Speaking to reporters from Reuters ahead of the first screening in Venice, Gibney stated that securing interview subjects for the project was challenging due to fear of repercussions from the billionaire.
"There was a tremendous sense of fear of talking, really almost existential fear, both among people who were his critics, people who were his business colleagues and people who are his friends," Gibney said. "I talked to many, many, many, many people who, except for some of the brave people who are here, declined to speak."
Production Responses and Next Steps
Gibney attended the red carpet premiere in Venice alongside journalist Zoe Schiffer and St. Clair, who appeared at the festival screening. Requests for comment sent to Gibney and Jigsaw Productions were not immediately returned.
Musk's legal counsel indicated that the billionaire reserves all legal rights should the documentary proceed with distribution without addressing the concerns detailed in the formal notice.
