SpaceX, the rocket ship company run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has fired several employees involved in an open letter that blasted the colourful billionaire for his behaviour, according to media reports.
The reports published yesterday (Friday local time) cited an email from Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president, saying the company had terminated employees who put together and circulated the letter. The letter writers denounced Musk for actions that they said are a "frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks".
The New York Times was the first outlet to report the purge, based on information from three employees familiar with the situation. The employees were not named.
It's unclear how many SpaceX workers lost their jobs, but Shotwell left no doubt that the company believed they had crossed an unacceptable line.
![SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/AXNPPA452SZ4CEEXKMCXDQIMYA.jpg?auth=aa798f9d8520bca8edfe638bff86e623c6cac2c1ad9831d6b1c4737f4a3f25d7&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)