Errol Musk, father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, has sparked outrage after making unfounded claims about former First Lady Michelle Obama. During an appearance on the Wide Awake Podcast with Joshua Rubin, Musk repeated a widely debunked conspiracy theory suggesting Michelle Obama is a man – a claim that has long circulated in far-right circles despite having no factual basis.
“We realised Obama is a queer who is married to a man who dresses as a woman. We all learned that. It’s not common knowledge,” Errol stated, without offering any evidence. The podcast host, clearly taken aback, questioned Musk’s statement, asking, “Michelle Obama is a man?”
Musk doubled down, responding, “Of course, you don’t know that?” He then referenced comedian Joan Rivers, who in 2014 made a joke about Michelle Obama’s gender identity. Rivers passed away two weeks later due to complications from surgery, but Musk falsely implied a connection. “Joan Rivers mentioned it publicly, and she was dead two weeks later by the way. They axed her, yeah. So that’s common knowledge. You can look it up anywhere,” he claimed.
Medical records confirmed that Rivers’ passing was due to brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen during a medical procedure. No credible link exists between her death and her comments. Despite this, Musk continued to push the baseless theory, making further inappropriate claims. “And yeah, Michelle Obama is a man, obviously. They have pictures of her in tracksuits with her 9-inch schlong hanging down… it’s leg,” he added.
The former First Lady and her husband, Barack Obama, have been married since 1992 and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha. There is no factual basis for Musk’s statements.
Errol Musk’s criticism of Elon’s parenting
During the same interview, Musk shifted the conversation to his son, Elon, offering harsh criticism of his parenting style. When asked if he believed the Tesla CEO was a good father, Musk responded, “No, he has not been a good dad.” He brought up the tragic passing of Elon’s first child, Nevada Alexander, who died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old.
“The baby was cared for too much by nannies and, sadly, passed away while under their watch. If Elon hears me saying this, he’s going to shoot me or something. But anyway, that’s what I think,” he remarked. Musk went on to claim that Elon had little direct involvement in raising his children. “They were too rich, too many nannies. Then he had five children with the same woman. They each had a nanny. It was really a weird situation,” he said.
Elon Musk, who has fathered at least 11 children with different women, has acknowledged in interviews that his demanding work schedule limits his time with them. However, he has also expressed a desire to be more present in their lives.
A history of controversial statements
The strained relationship between Elon Musk and his father has been well-documented. In a 2017 interview, Elon described Errol as “evil” and “a terrible human being.” Meanwhile, Errol has frequently downplayed his son’s success and dismissed his influence. When Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer dismissed Elon Musk’s criticism of British politics by calling him “desperate for attention,” Errol brushed it off.
“He’s just a person. The fact that he has money or something, he’s a billionaire or something to that effect… Tell him to get lost,” he stated. Errol Musk’s latest remarks have once again placed him at the center of controversy. Experts warn against the spread of misinformation, particularly regarding public figures. Despite the backlash, Musk seems unfazed. Whether his comments are an attempt to seek attention or simply reflect his personal beliefs, they have undoubtedly generated significant debate.
