British cave diver sues Musk over ‘pedo’ accusations
Vern Unsworth seeks $75K after saying Tesla CEO slandered him
Some of Elon Musk’s choicest words are coming back to haunt him.
And they may soon be heard in a court of law.
Vern Unsworth, the British cave diver whom Musk called “pedo guy” and a “child rapist” on Twitter, on Monday sued the Tesla chief executive for libel and slander in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The suit alleges that from July 15 until August 30, “Musk periodically utilized his Twitter account and emails to the media to publish to the world false and defamatory accusations against Mr. Unsworth, including accusations of pedophilia.”
Unsworth, a cave diver who aided in the rescue of a Thai boys soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand in June, became the subject of Musk’s ire after Unsworth chided Musk’s offer of a mini-submarine to use in the team’s rescue efforts. At the time, Unsworth said Musk was engaged in a “PR stunt” and Vern Unsworth, who aided in the rescue of a boys soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand, became the subject of Elon Musk’s ire after Unsworth chided his offer of a mini-submarine to use in the team’s rescue efforts.
that he could “stick his submarine where it hurts.”
Unsworth is seeking at least $75,000 in compensation from Musk, as well as punitive damages. The suit also asks that Musk refrain from “making further publication of the False and Defamatory accusations.”
The back-and-forth between Musk and Unsworth began not long after the Thai boys soccer team was rescued from a cave in which they were trapped after it flooded during a hiking trip. After Unsworth questioned Musk’s attempt to help in the team’s rescue, Musk went on Twitter and
called Unsworth “pedo guy,” using a British slang term for pedophile. Musk eventually apologized to Unsworth, on Twitter, but then raised the matter again earlier this month when he referred to Unsworth as a “child rapist” in a tweet.
Musk has not offered up any concrete evidence to back up his statements about Unsworth.
In a statement given to this news organization, L.
Lin Wood, Unsworth’s Atlanta-based attorney, said Musk can’t use his fame and wealth to get away with making what he said were unfounded public statements against his client.
“Elon Musk falsely accused Vern Unsworth of being guilty of heinous crimes,” Wood said. “Musk’s influence and wealth cannot convert his lies into truth or protect him from accountability for his wrongdoing in a court of law.”
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Unsworth’s suit.
Musk’s issues with Unsworth
have been part of several months of statements and actions that have kept Musk in the public eye, but have also raised many questions about his behavior and how it may affect his running of Tesla.
Along with his accusations against Unsworth, Musk also stirred up a whirlwind of attention when, in August, he said he had a plan to take Tesla private for $420 a share. Musk dropped that plan after less than three weeks of questions about how he would finance such a deal.
And earlier this month, many investors and analysts scratched their heads over Musk’s behavior after he appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and smoked a cigarette that Rogan said was laced with marijuana.
Not long after that appearance, Nomura Instinet analyst Romit Shah issued a critical report that was wary with regards to investing in Tesla’s stock, and said Musk’s “erratic behavior” could have a negative effect on Tesla’s brand.