Attorneys for Tesla CEO Elon Musk state his tweets in 2015, in which he called a British scuba diver a “pedo guy,” weren’t defamatory.
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Elon Musk states he has a various understanding of what “pedo guy” indicates, according to a Monday court filing. Attorneys representing the Tesla CEO are looking for a summary judgment to have a case including him and a British scuba diver, whom Musk called a “pedo guy” in a tweet in 2015, dismissed by United States District Judge Stephen Wilson.
Musks’ lawyer argues the CEO’s tweets weren’t defamatory, stating, “The term ‘pedo guy’ was a common insult used during Mr. Musk’s youth in South Africa, which he understood was synonymous with ‘creepy old man’ and aimed at insulting one’s appearance and demeanor,” the filing states. “The term ‘pedo guy’ as used and understood by Mr. Musk is not an accusation of acts of pedophilia.”
In July, Musk called Vernon Unsworth, a scuba diver who assisted save a young boys soccer group caught in a Thai cavern, a “pedo guy” on Twitter after the scuba diver slammed Musk’s proposed submarine rescue strategy. Unsworth took legal action against Musk in September for disparagement.
In May, Wilson rejected Musk’s effort to dismiss the case. A hearing is presently set for Oct. 28.
Musk likewise worked with a private detective to “conduct an investigation of Mr. Unsworth in the United Kingdom and Thailand on Mr. Musk’s behalf,” according to the filing. Forbes previously reported the news.
Representatives for Musk had no more remark.
Lin Wood, lead counsel for Unsworth, informed CNET in a declaration, “The motion filed by Elon Musk today is a disgusting and transparent effort to continue falsely smearing Vernon Unsworth without any credible or verified supporting evidence.”
You can check out the filing here:
Vernon Unsworth vs Elon Musk by jonathan_skillings on Scribd
Originally released Sept. 16, 3: 26 p.m. PT.
Update, 3: 56 p.m. PT: Embeds filing.
Update, 4: 40 p.m. PT: Adds that agents for Musk had no more remark.
Update, 5: 27 p.m. PT: Adds remark from Lin Wood, lead counsel for Unsworth.
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