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Despite her seemingly typical all-American upbringing, the outlet highlights that Vivian grapples with complex familial dynamics, particularly her relationship with her father. As the wealthiest individual in the world, Elon Musk’s influence extends beyond financial power, adding layers of complexity to their interactions and her public persona.

Vivian has not only distanced herself from her father’s image but has actively sought to sever ties, demonstrated by her legal efforts in 2022 to change her name. She expressed a strong desire to dissociate from her biological father’s legacy, stating that she does not wish to be linked to him in any way, showcasing her commitment to her own identity.

Her visibility increased significantly when comments from her father about her surfaced in the media. Just before he endorsed Donald Trump for president, Musk referred to her using her previous name in an interview, igniting controversy and drawing public attention to her experiences as a transgender individual, which she described as being “killed by the woke mind virus.”

According to Teen Vogue, Musk has publicly commented on a biography released in 2023 that portrayed his attempts to connect with Vivian. He controversially suggested that she might struggle with “gender dysphoria,” while also mentioning her interests in musicals and theater, but firmly asserted that she was not a woman, which sparked further debate.

Vivian passionately responded to her father’s assertions through a series of posts on Threads, the social media platform competing with Musk’s X. In her posts, she thoroughly dismantled each claim he made, emphasizing her own truth and perspective as a transgender woman.

In her reaction, she firmly stated, “This is entirely fake. Like, really none of this ever happened. Ever. I don’t even know where he got this from,” reaffirming her stance in her conversation with Teen Vogue.

She further challenged the narrative presented in the biography, stating, “The story in the Isaacson biography where he allegedly sold all of his houses and lived in an apartment to reconcile with me? That is not true. What the f–k?” She emphasized that he never lived in an apartment, to her knowledge, making it clear that these claims were unfounded.

Vivian explained, “I hadn’t talked to him in years, and all of a sudden there’s this story of, ‘He sold his homes to please his anti-capitalist daughter,’ which is insane. This did not happen. What are you on about? I haven’t talked to him since 2020. That was almost half a decade ago at this point. Thank God.”

She described the entire back-and-forth as “the most cathartic moment of my entire life by far,” indicating how important it was for her to assert her truth.

Vivian elaborated, “I had all this pent-up energy, I had wanted to speak out for so long after being [essentially] defamed in a book, after being doxxed. Everything that had gone on — especially in my childhood — when that finally happened, it was the most cathartic experience I’ve ever had.”

“And then I was like, Okay, whatever.”

When reflecting on her childhood, Vivian candidly shares her experiences of growing up with four siblings. However, she admits that she is uncertain about the full extent of her family tree, especially when it comes to her half-siblings.

“That’s a question,” she replied when asked if she was on good terms with her siblings. “I will say I don’t actually know how many siblings I have, if you include half-siblings. That’s just a fun fact,” she quipped, highlighting the complexity of her family relationships.

Vivian revealed that she learned about Trump’s new child with Shivon Zilis “the same time everyone else did,” and she discovered about Grimes’ second child with him through drag queen Tatianna’s post on Reddit, which is also how she found out about his child with Ashley St. Clair.

“If I had a nickel for each time I found out I had half-siblings through Reddit, I’d have two nickels,” she joked, illustrating her disconnect from her father’s rapidly expanding family.

Ultimately, Vivian stated, “I don’t keep up with that side of the family because… I don’t… I don’t really give a fk what they do. This isn’t my problem, okay? I’ve seen X once, when he was very little.”

She expressed her indifference towards having no communication with her father, regardless of his public statements about her, affirming, “I haven’t talked to him since 2020. That was almost half a decade ago at this point. Thank God.”

“As a transgender woman, I fear losing access to guaranteed medical care,” Vivian expressed amid the rising tide of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric from the current administration. She articulates the concerns faced by many in the transgender community, highlighting the very real implications of these policies on their lives.

“If I hadn’t medically transitioned at the age I did, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” she shared, emphasizing that transitioning as a minor was not just a choice but a necessary step for her mental health and well-being, stating it was essential to prevent suicidal thoughts.

At the same time, she feels a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for transgender issues publicly, especially as someone who transitioned as a minor. “There’s so much villainization of that,” she noted, underscoring the stigma that many in her position face.

Vivian hopes to “raise awareness of the fact that transgender care for minors, especially puberty blockers, is really, really important. So maybe stop demonizing these literal children or the people around these children who are just trying to help them feel comfortable in their own skin.”

“Clearly, it’s not just transgender individuals who are affected by the current administration,” Vivian pointed out, mentioning other marginalized groups such as undocumented immigrants and people of color, who also face systemic challenges under the current political landscape.

She emphasized her commitment to advocacy, stating, “I’m trying to do more advocacy on that front, as the current administration has kind of been like a wrecking ball in that regard,” indicating her desire to effect change and support those in need.

In fact, she described her perception of the Trump administration as a whole, expressing concern that the nation is heading in the wrong direction, stating, “It’s terrifying.”

“Every time I open my phone to read the news, I kind of just stare at the wall for 10 minutes,” she shared. “It’s horrifying what they’re doing, not only to the transgender community but also to migrants, to communities of color, to so many marginalized communities that are being systematically targeted by the new administration and having protections revoked.”

“It’s cartoonishly evil,” she concluded, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for action.

While Vivian acknowledges her father’s significant role in the political landscape, she insists that he does not occupy much space in her personal world. However, she remains aware of his actions and sometimes feels compelled to speak out.

“I will see things about him in the news and think, That’s f–king cringe, I should probably post about this and denounce it, which I’ve done a few times,” she remarked, highlighting her willingness to stand against her father’s controversial actions.

One notable moment was his alleged Nazi salute, which Musk denied had any ties to Adolf Hitler. Vivian described the situation as “insane,” firmly stating, “Honey, we’ll call a fig a fig, and we’ll call a Nazi salute what it was. That s–t was definitely a Nazi salute.”

She pointed out that the crowd involved is equally culpable, expressing frustration that the discourse around the subject lacks depth. “That crowd should be denounced,” she added, emphasizing the need for accountability.

Vivian explained that aside from speaking out when necessary, “I don’t give a f–k about him. I really don’t,” emphasizing her desire to distance herself from her father’s public persona and the scrutiny that comes with it.

Vivian expressed her disillusionment with the ultra-wealthy, asserting that wealth should not be “hoarded by these mega-billionaires who are the top 1%, who only have their own interests at heart.” This perspective highlights her concern for economic inequality and the impact of wealth concentration on society.

“I’ve met some of these billionaires — they are not good people. I don’t think any of them are,” she stated bluntly, reflecting her skepticism about the morality of those in positions of vast wealth and influence.

Growing up in an environment marked by “extravagant wealth” while witnessing the significant homelessness issue in Los Angeles led her to question the fairness of the situation. She pondered, “How is this fair??” indicating her struggle to reconcile her upbringing with the reality faced by many.

“You have to inevitably come to the conclusion it isn’t,” she concluded. “There is no world in which people should be owning multiple private planes, private islands, private whatever, while other people are sleeping on the street,” succinctly expressing her views on wealth disparity.