SpaceX CEO Elon Musk participates in a post-launch news conference inside the Press auditorium at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30, 2020, following the launch of the SpaceX Demo-2 mission agency to the International Space Station.
NASA / Kim Shiflett
SpaceX fired at least five employees in connection with spreading a letter around the company criticizing the CEO Elon MuskTwo people familiar with the company told CNBC.
The open letter, first reported by The Verge, was circulated and signed by an unidentified number of SpaceX employees earlier this week. The letter was addressed to company executives, as reported by the media, and addresses recent sexual misconduct allegations against Musk and describes his public conduct. billionaires are “a frequent source of distraction and confusion” for SpaceX employees.
Musk is the private company’s controlling shareholder, with his trust owning about 78% of SpaceX’s voting shares as of last year.
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell recently defended Musk against allegations of misconductIt’s a reported by Business Insiderwrote in an email to employees last month that she believes “the allegations are false.”
New York Times first reported the SpaceX event. SpaceX did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
