Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by the “virus of the awakened mind” after she was tricked into agreeing to gender reassignment surgery.
In an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, X’s owner called gender reassignment surgery “child mutilation and sterilization,” and spoke about his 20-year-old daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who underwent the surgery during the pandemic.
“I was basically tricked into signing papers for one of my older sons,” Musk told Peterson in an interview with The Daily Wire, during which Musk referred to his son by his deadname. “This was at a time when I didn’t really understand what was going on, and COVID-19 was happening at the time, so there was a lot of chaos and I was told that[Musk’s child]might commit suicide.”
The SpaceX founder argued that the procedure is being carried out on children “well below the age of consent” and said he agreed with Peterson that those who promote the practice should go to prison.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said. “The bottom line is, I lost my son. There’s a reason they call it ‘deadnaming.’ The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Musk went on to say that the experience gave him a mission.
“I have since vowed to eradicate the virus of the woke mind,” Musk said, “and we are making some progress.”
Vivian Jenna Wilson will cut ties with her father in 2022
On June 22, 2022, Wilson was legally allowed to change her name and gender at age 18 in a Santa Monica, California court.
According to the petition, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 18, 2022, she claims her name change is due to her gender identity and apparent dislike of Musk.
“I no longer live with my biological father and no longer wish to be involved in any way,” Wilson wrote in the petition.
Wilson’s mother is Canadian author Justine Wilson, who divorced Musk in 2008. The couple have six children.
Musk called the “awakened mind virus” a threat to modern civilization.
Musk previously said, “The Virus of the Awakened Mind” In a December 2021 interview with the conservative outlet The Babylon Bee, he called it a “humorless world” and “perhaps one of the greatest threats to modern civilization.”
Musk announced his intention to acquire Twitter for $44 billion on April 25, 2022, and closed the deal about six months later. He has pledged to restore “free speech” on Twitter, and has increased conservative political commentary since the acquisition.
Earlier this month, Musk said he fully supported former President Donald Trump following the July 13 assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Gender-affirming care is a scientifically proven and effective approach
Gender affirmation care is a life-saving, scientifically supported and effective medical approach for people who need care while exploring their gender identity. Gender affirmation care can range from discussion and hormone therapy to surgical intervention.
Some experts argue that gender reassignment treatment should be viewed like any other form of medical care, where discussion can take place about the method of treatment, rather than the appropriateness of its need.
“In every medical field, we’re continually improving care, changing care, developing new guidelines, and conducting research,” Dr. Ximena Lopez, a pediatric endocrinologist in California, previously told USA Today, “so it’s not surprising that it’s the same with gender care.”
Transgender adults make up less than 2% of the U.S. population, and about 5% of young adults identify as transgender or non-binary.
“You have to take a step back from acknowledging that yes, there may be side effects, but that’s why it’s not something to be undertaken lightly,” Dr. Ramiz Kousseri, assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Florida State University College of Medicine, previously told USA Today. “That’s why it’s talked about and debated in terms of what outcomes are desirable and what outcomes are undesirable.”
Contributors: Natalie Neisa Alund and Jessica Gain David Oliver, TODA, USAyes
