Life
An insult, a lawsuit and a jury verdict
RECORD / AT A GLANCE
Not liable
Musk made the remark; a jury found it was not defamation. There was never evidence for the insult itself.
THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY
Jul 2018
Musk calls Unsworth “pedo guy.”
6 Dec 2019
The jury finds Musk not liable.
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The jury found him not liable for calling Vernon Unsworth “pedo guy.”
Who says it: Online posts.
No evidence ever supported Musk’s insult; he deleted and apologized for it.
Who says it: Musk.
OPEN THE RECORD
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The verdict.
Musk’s own law firm. Partisan to the result.
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Why the jury sided with Musk.
In July 2018, after Unsworth called Musk’s mini-submarine for the Thai cave rescue a PR stunt, Musk posted that Unsworth was a “pedo guy.” He later deleted it and apologized, then repeated similar claims. [1]
Unsworth sued. Musk argued “pedo guy” was a common insult, not a factual claim. On 6 December 2019 the jury found him not liable. [1][2]
What we can’t tell you. Musk’s law firm’s account is partisan.
The verdict.
Musk’s own law firm. Partisan to the result.
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