Elon Musk’s Discarded Daughter: Alive but Treated as Dead

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 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, 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.

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 had 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.

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 father for displaying feminine traits. Musk, she said, pressured her to act more masculine, often criticizing her for expressing herself in ways that were considered “too feminine.”

She recalled one particularly painful experience during her elementary school years. “I was in fourth grade,” she said. “We went on this road trip that I didn’t know was actually just an advertisement for one of the cars — I don’t remember which one — and he was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high. It was cruel.”

Musk’s insistence on pushing his daughter to suppress aspects of her identity—particularly her voice and femininity—was emotionally damaging and a clear example of how deeply his rejection affected her.

Vivian’s experiences highlight a troubling pattern of behavior in Musk. His inability to accept her gender identity, his emotional coldness, and his tendency to berate her for her natural expressions of self all reflect a deeper issue: a father’s refusal to see his child as they truly are.

For Vivian, the result of this rejection has been profound. Not only has she faced the pain of being invalidated by her own father, but she has also been forced to navigate a public space in which her identity is continuously challenged and misunderstood.

Vivian’s defiance in the TikTok video was not just an act of rebellion—it was an assertion of her identity and an attempt to reclaim control over her narrative. By confronting her father’s hurtful comments head-on, she has made it clear that she will no longer allow Musk to dictate her identity or define her worth.

Her message was loud and clear: despite her father’s best efforts to erase her, she is alive, and she is thriving. This video is a testament to her resilience and strength in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The public feud between Elon Musk and his daughter Vivian is not just a personal dispute—it is a reflection of the larger societal struggles that transgender individuals face. Musk’s views on “woke culture” and his rejection of progressive movements have put him at odds with many in the LGBTQ+ community, and Vivian’s battle with her father is a microcosm of the larger cultural war that continues to unfold.

Musk’s attempt to discredit her identity, paired with his harsh treatment, only serves to reinforce the challenges that transgender individuals face in their own families and communities.

While the future of Vivian and Musk’s relationship remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Vivian will not be silenced. Her voice, her story, and her identity are hers to define.

She has shown incredible strength and resilience, using her platform to challenge her father’s narrative and make her truth known to the world. Despite the pain and rejection she has experienced, she continues to stand tall and live as her authentic self. For Vivian, the journey is far from over, but with each step, she reclaims her power and proves that no one—especially not her father—can erase who she is.