SpaceX fires employees who wrote letter slamming Musk’s “embarrassing” behavior

Enlarge / SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on April 19, 2022. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg)

SpaceX has reportedly fired at least five employees who circulated a letter that urged company executives to condemn CEO Elon Musk's public behavior.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell explained the firings in an email to staff, according to a New York Times article. "The letter, solicitations and general process made employees feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views," Shotwell wrote, according to the NYT. "We have too much critical work to accomplish and no need for this kind of overreaching activism."

Shotwell's email to staff also said, "Blanketing thousands of people across the company with repeated unsolicited emails and asking them to sign letters and fill out unsponsored surveys during the work day is not acceptable." Shotwell urged employees to "stay focused on the SpaceX mission, and use your time to do your best work. This is how we will get to Mars."