Errol Musk, father to entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been promoting a baseless conspiracy theory suggesting that Michelle Obama is transgender. This claim was aired during his appearance on "The Wide Awake Podcast" with host Joshua Rubin.
Errol Musk went as far as to suggest that the late comedian Joan Rivers was murdered for publicly claiming that Michelle Obama was transgender. Joan Rivers passed away in 2014 at the age of 81 due to cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, as per CNN reports. Weeks before her death, Rivers had made these claims about Michelle Obama, labeling them as compliments in an interview with CNN in July 2014.
When asked directly by Rubin about Michelle Obama's gender, Errol Musk confirmed the conspiracy by saying, "Of course, you don't know that?" He further stated that it was "common knowledge" that Rivers was "axed" for her outspoken comments. He also mentioned the existence of supposed "pictures" that he claimed would prove Michelle Obama's transgender status.
This isn't the first time such a theory has surfaced. Comedian Joan Rivers, in 2014, and podcaster Jason Whitlock in 2023, have also spread similar unfounded claims about the former First Lady. The practice of "transvestigating," where conspiracy theorists baselessly assert that certain public figures, usually women, are transgender and hiding their "true" gender, has also targeted other celebrities like Taylor Swift and Serena Williams.
These conspiracy theories continue to circulate without any credible evidence, often fueled by misinformation and prejudice.