Elon Musk has responded to claims he sexually harassed a SpaceX flight attendant during a private jet trip to London.
Business Insider has revealed the flight attendant disclosed to a friend that a routine massage turned sexual on the journey.
The friend has signed a declaration, which has been seen by Insider, and alleges Musk exposed his 'erect penis' during the massage and propositioned the woman in 2016.
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The flight attendant's friend added that Musk 'touched her and offered to buy her a horse if she would do more'.
"He whipped out his penis, it was erect," the friend explained to Insider.
"And he started propositioning her, like he touched her thigh and told her he would buy her a horse. And he basically tried to bribe her to perform some sort of sexual favour."
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The airline worker was an avid horse rider, which is why Musk allegedly suggested he could get her a new horse.
The tech billionaire has responded to the claims to Insider.
He's told the news outlet that the story is a 'politically motivated hit piece' and that there is a 'lot more to this story'.
"If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light," he said.
He also posted a tweet to his millions of followers that alluded to the allegations.
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"The attacks against me should be viewed through a political lens – this is their standard (despicable) playbook – but nothing will deter me from fighting for a good future and your right to free speech," he said.
He also alluded to the story in a tweet the day before it was published, which said: "Political attacks on me will escalate dramatically in coming months."
The flight attendant reportedly had to train to be a masseuse out of hours and out of her own pocket.
She was allegedly told it would increase her chances of more work because she could massage passengers as well as be a flight attendant.
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However, her friend claims that after she declined Musk on the London flight, her shifts were cut down.
Two years after the initial alleged incident, the flight attendant 'hired a California employment lawyer' and brought it up with SpaceX's HR department.
She was reportedly paid $250,000 in a severance package.
SpaceX vice president of legal Christopher Cardaci told Insider: "I'm not going to comment on any settlement agreements."
Topics: Elon Musk
Stewart Perrie