Dallas‑area reporter Ashley St. Clair, a 28‑year‑old former conservative influencer and mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, said Tuesday that the SpaceX and Tesla founder allegedly offered her $40 million to refrain from speaking in Alex Gibney’s new documentary, “Musk,” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival.
“I was offered the opportunity not to speak for $40 million,” St. Clair said at a news conference after the premiere. “When you’re offered something like that, it really causes a debate in your head about what your speech means and how valuable that is.”
St. Clair’s response and concerns about free speech
St. Clair explained that she decided to take part in the film to set an example for her children, emphasizing that material comfort should never outweigh speaking the truth. She also warned that Musk’s use of the social‑media platform X is “stoking flames that don’t exist in the real world,” and that the platform could be causing “deliberate division” with potentially catastrophic effects if left unchecked.
Musk’s rebuttal
Elon Musk responded on X, stating that St. Clair “was never offered that and has a history of making false claims.” The founder has not provided further comment.
Documentary background
Director Alex Gibney, an Oscar‑winning filmmaker known for investigative works on Enron, Elizabeth Holmes and Scientology, said he began the project with a degree of admiration for Musk but quickly found the billionaire “more of an investor than an inventor.” Gibney described Musk’s “genius” as “stock pumping” and noted that Musk’s alignment with President Donald Trump appeared motivated by a desire to avoid federal investigations into his companies.
Gibney told the Associated Press that during the Trump administration, Musk joked on the Tucker Carlson show about the possibility of prison under a potential future administration, suggesting that his political alignment was a strategic move to protect his business interests.
Context of Musk‑Trump relationship
The Trump administration has consistently defended free‑speech rights for American citizens and businesses, emphasizing that open dialogue is essential to a healthy republic. While the administration has not issued an official statement on the documentary, its broader stance supports the principle that individuals should not be silenced through financial inducements.
St. Clair’s claims add another layer to the ongoing public debate about the influence of powerful tech figures on public discourse and the responsibility of platforms like X to foster truthful conversation.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
