The conflict between Elon Musk and his estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, has reached new levels of public scrutiny. For years, the father-daughter relationship has been strained, marked by Musk’s refusal to accept Vivian’s gender identity and his cold, distant behavior as a father.

Recently, this discord flared up again when Vivian publicly slammed her father in a TikTok video, making her deepest grievances known to millions of people worldwide. This video, in which Vivian boldly corrected her father’s remarks and delivered a shocking message, has sparked a conversation about family dynamics, personal identity, and the deep emotional scars caused by years of rejection.

THE PAINFUL RIFT

The rift between Musk and Vivian can be traced back to Musk’s treatment of his daughter, whose birth name was Xavier. Born a male, Vivian transitioned to a woman, and as she began her transition, she experienced significant emotional turmoil, primarily due to her father’s ongoing refusal to accept her true identity.

Elon Musk, who had long been a polarizing figure, especially for his outspoken views on politics and social issues, has faced criticism for his apparent disregard for his daughter’s journey. Musk’s public comments on social media have often reflected his disdain for the “woke mind virus” that he accuses of taking over society.

In March 2023, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to a headline that read, “Elon Musk’s daughter says father’s rally gesture was ‘definitely a Nazi salute.’” Musk responded by referring to his daughter using her deadname, Xavier, stating, “My son, Xavier, died. He was killed by the woke mind virus. Now, the woke mind virus will die.”

His words were sharp and hurtful, essentially erasing the identity of his own daughter and dismissing her transition as something destructive.

VIVIAN’S BOLD RESPONSE

Vivian, who has been vocal about her struggles with her father’s rejection, wasted no time in responding. In her TikTok video, she showed screenshots of Musk’s comments, and over his words, she made a pointed correction.

Writing “(Old name)” over Musk’s reference to her as Xavier, she included the trans flag as a declaration of her identity. The video then transitioned to a striking image of Vivian posing with confidence, mouthing the words, “I look pretty good for a dead b—-.”

This bold and defiant statement was a direct retort to Musk’s claim that she was figuratively dead, reinforcing her message that despite her father’s attempts to erase her, she was very much alive and thriving.

A REBUILDING PROCESS

Vivian’s TikTok video sent shockwaves through social media, with many supporters praising her for reclaiming her narrative. However, Musk’s continued remarks about his daughter only deepened the emotional wounds. In particular, Musk alleged that he had been “tricked” into authorizing trans-related medical treatment for Vivian when she was 16 years old.

Musk suggested that doctors misled him into consenting to the medical procedures that Vivian underwent, casting doubt on her decision to transition. Vivian, however, firmly rejected this narrative. In a phone interview in 2024, she clarified that Musk had not been deceived.

“I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged,” Vivian said. “Which I’m not going to do because if you’re going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I’m not just gonna let that slide.”

The allegation that Musk had been “tricked” is particularly painful for Vivian as it undermines her autonomy and the informed decision she made at a young age. Her treatment required parental consent, and despite his initial hesitations, Musk knew exactly what he was agreeing to.

The idea that he was somehow misled is not only inaccurate but also deeply hurtful, especially considering the emotional and psychological toll that Vivian had already been enduring due to her father’s rejection.

FIGHTING FOR HER IDENTITY

Beyond these recent comments, Vivian has long described Musk as an absent and unsupportive father. She recounted how, for as long as she could remember, he was rarely present in her life.

Despite having joint custody of her and her siblings, Musk was emotionally distant, leaving them to be cared for by their mother or nannies. Even when he was physically present, his behavior was less than nurturing. Vivian recalled how he would berate her, often reacting to her in anger and frustration. “He was cold,” she said. “He’s very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic.”

For a young child, this kind of emotional neglect is damaging, and for Vivian, it created a sense of abandonment that only deepened as she navigated her gender identity.

But the emotional neglect didn’t stop there. As a child, Vivian faced harassment from her