Elon Musk has launched a blistering attack on the director of a new four-hour documentary chronicling his life and influence, dismissing Alex Gibney as an "embittered old man" devoid of any credibility. The film, titled "Musk," premiered this week at the Venice Film Festival, where Gibney, known for his works on the Enron collapse, WikiLeaks, and Vladimir Putin, stated he believes the world's wealthiest individual poses a significant threat.

In a series of posts on X, Musk tore into the project, labeling it a failed smear attempt. He added that the sharply critical four-hour feature was "incredibly dull." When a supporter commented that they had never heard of Gibney prior to this documentary, Musk responded by framing it as a psychological operation, a calculated propaganda effort designed to manipulate public perception. "Gibney has zero integrity, none at all," Musk wrote. "Luckily his movie is mind-numbingly boring... it's a failed hit job that made the fatal error of being tedious for four straight hours." He further alleged that the director "scraped together a collection of disgruntled interviewees, some of whom don't even know me but still harbor hostility... He's a bitter old man who has completely lost his mind. Even garbage deserves more respect than Gibney."

Media outlets reported on Thursday that Musk's legal team has threatened to sue Gibney for defamation. Since its premiere, the documentary has sparked widespread debate, particularly regarding claims made by those interviewed. Musk specifically refuted statements from his ex-girlfriend, Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer aligned with the "Make America Great Again" movement. She alleged that Musk's team offered her $40 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement about their relationship. "No one ever offered her that money; she has a track record of fabricating false claims," Musk countered.

He also amplified a post from podcast host Katie Miller, the wife of Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller and a former communications official within Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Miller criticized the film for its lack of input from Musk's acquaintances and allies. "Without the participation of eyewitnesses, this film cannot be considered an authoritative record," she wrote. "This fictional piece is simply a smear campaign launched by a narcissistic Hollywood director."

Musk's use of the X platform to shape public opinion and influence content recommendation algorithms has drawn significant international attention. He has repeatedly waded into UK immigration policy debates and praised the far-right Alternative for Germany party for its notable performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state election this week. During the Venice press conference, Gibney said he sensed widespread fear among the people he interviewed for the film. He speculated that Musk's childhood in South Africa might explain his current behavior. "His childhood was marked by hardship and trauma," Gibney noted. "Viewed through a psychoanalytic lens, in some ways he is now projecting that childhood trauma onto all of us."