A claim by one of Elon Musk’s former partners that he fathered a child with a Japanese pop star has ignited a storm of speculation online in Japan, fuelling debate over celebrity privacy, reproductive ethics and the billionaire’s growing brood.
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The allegation was made by Ashley St Clair – a conservative US influencer and mother of the Tesla CEO’s 14th known child – in a New York Times report published on Friday. According to the newspaper, St Clair said Musk had confided in her that he had fathered children around the world, including with a Japanese pop star, although he did not identify the woman.
“He made it seem like it was just his altruism and he generally believed these people should just have children,” St Clair was quoted as saying. She also alleged that Musk had expressed concern over declining birth rates and indicated he was willing to donate sperm to anyone who asked.
Her claims have not been independently verified, and the identity of the Japanese pop star remains undisclosed. Musk has not publicly commented on the claim.
Even so, the story has captured public attention in Japan, though mainstream media and commentators have been careful to avoid naming anyone thus far.
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“It is embarrassing to even pry into this kind of thing,” comedian Hiroiki Ariyoshi said on his Sunday evening radio programme, to laughter from his fellow presenters.