SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is embroiled in a series of serious allegations from a former SpaceX employee who claims she was denied a raise after turning down Musk’s offer. The controversy adds to the scrutiny surrounding Musk’s leadership and behavior.

The allegations involve a former intern who joined Musk’s executive team at SpaceX in 2017. After a brief romantic relationship that began during the internship, Musk continued to pursue her, often sending messages late at night and inviting her to his home. Despite her initial enthusiasm about the job, the professional relationship became uncomfortable as Musk’s persistent advances continued. These interactions made her role more difficult, prompting her to seek a different position at SpaceX, according to friends and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The situation turned serious when Musk allegedly asked her to have his children. Upon her refusal, she claims she was denied a pay raise, which suggests retaliation for not complying with his personal requests. The incident is part of a broader story of Musk’s interactions with female employees, which raises serious questions about workplace ethics at SpaceX.

Further complicating the issue, multiple women have come forward with similar stories about Musk’s behavior. In 2016, a SpaceX flight attendant accused Musk of exposing himself during a private flight and offering to buy her a horse in exchange for sex. Another former employee reported that Musk asked her to have his children in 2013. These stories paint a disturbing picture of a corporate culture where Musk’s actions are unchecked and where he is considered above the company’s harassment policies.

Former executives and employees have expressed concerns about the working environment at SpaceX under Musk’s leadership. They describe a culture where complaints about Musk’s behavior are often ignored, and a tacit understanding that Musk is exempt from rules that apply to others. This has contributed to what many describe as a toxic workplace, where employees feel pressured to tolerate inappropriate behavior from the top.

Elon Musk has not commented publicly on these latest allegations. However, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell has defended Musk, saying he is one of the “nicest people” she knows and argued that the allegations misrepresent his actions. She highlighted that SpaceX thoroughly investigates all claims of harassment and takes appropriate action to address them.

The allegations come at a particularly sensitive time for Musk. He is already under intense scrutiny for his hefty $46 billion pay package at Tesla, which is being objected to by shareholders. This growing controversy over his personal conduct could further impact public perception and investor confidence in his leadership.