Elon Musk and Director Alex Gibney Clash Over Venice Film Festival Documentary

Director Alex Gibney has premiered a four hour documentary about Elon Musk at the Venice film festival, sparking a public conflict between the filmmaker and the tech mogul. Gibney, known for films on Enron and Vladimir Putin, describes Musk as extremely dangerous and a manipulator who has used government support to fuel his tech visions. The film includes claims from former MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair, who alleges she was offered 40 million dollars in hush money to remain silent about her relationship with Musk. Musk has denied these claims, stating that St. Clair has a history of making false accusations.

Musk responded to the documentary on X, calling it a boring hit piece and describing Gibney as a bitter old man with zero integrity. He further suggested the film is a psychological operation, reposting an image that links Gibney to George Soros and Hollywood. In response, Gibney suggested that Musk's current behavior is a result of a traumatic childhood in South Africa.

Reporting on the event differs based on political framing. A center leaning source frames the film as a sharp portrait of the social divide and a vivisection of late capitalism, focusing on the documentary's portrayal of Musk as a potential psychopath. A center left leaning source focuses more on the interpersonal conflict and the specific accusations of political manipulation, highlighting Musk's use of X to attack the filmmaker.