Elon Musk is no stranger to stirring up debates on X, the platform he owns. On March 1, 2026, he posted a reply that quickly went viral. Responding to Sall Grover, the founder of the women-only app Giggle for Girls, Musk wrote, “People can pretend or dress up all they want and that’s fine, but they can’t force their mental illness to be my new reality!”
Grover had shared her thoughts on transgender rights, calling it “absolutely insane” that pretending to be the opposite sex is seen as a human rights movement. Musk’s words racked up over 237,000 likes and millions of views in just days, turning into a major talking point across social media and news outlets.
This isn’t the first time Musk has weighed in on gender identity. He has a history of strong opinions, often tying them to broader cultural battles. Fans and followers jumped in right away, with some cheering him on for what they saw as straight talk, while others fired back, calling the comment outdated and hurtful.
The post came amid ongoing discussions about apps like Giggle, which faced a discrimination ruling in Australia involving a transgender woman named Roxanne Tickle. Grover is appealing that decision, and Musk’s support added fuel to the fire. It’s the kind of moment that shows how one tweet from a billionaire can ripple out and get everyone chatting.
A Personal Angle: Musk’s Family Ties to the Topic
What makes Musk’s statement hit harder is his own family story. He has an estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender in 2022 and changed her name to distance herself from him. Musk has repeatedly referred to her as his “son, Xavier,” and blamed her transition on what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
In a December 2025 exchange with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, Musk said, “I assume you’re referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children. I love Xavier very much and hope he recovers.”
Vivian, now 20, has spoken out too. In a March 2025 interview with Teen Vogue, she described Musk as a “pathetic man-child” and shared how he reacted to her coming out. She said he was less supportive than her mom, Justine Wilson, and that she hadn’t spoken to him in months before starting hormone therapy.
Musk has claimed he was “tricked” into approving her treatment at 16, something Vivian denies. This family rift has played out publicly, with Musk vowing to “destroy the woke mind virus” after what he sees as losing his child. It’s a raw, real-life layer that turns his comments from just opinions into something more personal and intense.
Cheers from Supporters: “Finally, Someone Says It”
Plenty of people backed Musk up, seeing his words as a stand for common sense. On X, users like James Madison posted, “Thank you for speaking out about this. I’ve been saying from the very beginning that being transgender is just another form of mental illness.” Another account, shared a graphic with Musk’s quote and called transgenderism a “woke mental illness,” getting hundreds of likes and reposts.
Supporters often point to concerns about youth mental health, medication, and surgeries. Musk himself has criticized gender-affirming care, once saying doctors who perform procedures on minors should go to prison for life.
In wider reactions, some echoed Musk’s view that society shouldn’t have to adjust reality for personal identities. A post from Moe Anderson agreed, calling it a “blood curdling scream for help” and linking it to crimes by trans people.
Critics Push Back
On the flip side, critics were quick to condemn Musk’s words as transphobic and damaging. An X user replied directly, saying, “Being an ignorant and cruel transphobic father to a beautiful transgender daughter who you don’t even know, is a mental illness. In my book, Vivian will always be more decent than you.”
Advocacy groups and experts stressed that being transgender isn’t a mental disorder, and such talk adds to stigma. The Human Rights Campaign has previously called out Musk for platforming anti-trans content, saying it prioritizes profit over humanity.
Some accused Musk of letting personal family pain shape his public stance in ways that hurt the wider community. The backlash included calls for more accurate information and kinder dialogue on a sensitive subject.
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