Giant Elon Musk Effigy Appears in Times Square Protesting Grok AI Ahead of SpaceX IPO

Giant Inflatable Effigy of Elon Musk Unveiled in Times Square to Protest Grok

A 40ft inflatable in the likeness of a topless Elon Musk has been unveiled in New York's Times Square ahead of SpaceX's anticipated IPO. The group behind the effigy say it's designed to highlight that Musk's Grok has been used to generate nonconsensual sexual images of women and minors. Grok, a generative AI chatbot, is part of Musk's xAI, now a subsidiary of SpaceX. "SpaceX shareholders are on the hook for every Grok lawsuit, criminal investigation, and regulatory fine that is coming. All while Musk becomes a 'paper trillionaire' and his investors pick up the tab," said a press release from Safe AI Now (SAIN), which describes itself as a coalition of faith leaders and online safety organizations among other groups. SpaceX has been contacted for comment.

SpaceX IPO: Giant Elon Musk protest effigy stuns Times Square in New York, has a warning for investors. Watch video

SpaceX IPO: A giant inflatable Elon Musk appeared in New York City ahead of SpaceX's historic IPO, not as a celebration, but as a protest. Organized by Safe AI Now, the display highlighted concerns over SpaceX's AI chatbot, Grok, and its potential to generate harmful content, warning investors of associated risks. New Yorkers residents were stunned to see a giant inflatable version of trillionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk towering above the busy streets just hours before SpaceX's historic stock market debut. The massive blow-up figure appeared overnight as SpaceX locked in its IPO price at $135 per share, setting the stage for what is being called the largest IPO in history. The offering values the company at around $1.77 trillion and is expected to begin trading on Nasdaq on June 12 under the ticker symbol SPCX. ALSO READ: IRCTC new website launch date announced by Ashwini Vaishnaw Why Was the Inflatable Elon Musk Installed?The giant sculpture was not a celebration of Musk's success. But it was part of a protest campaign organised by Safe AI Now (SAIN), a coalition that says it includes faith leaders, child-safety organisations and advocacy groups. The shirtless inflatable featured several provocative messages aimed at Musk and his companies. One of the most visible slogans read: "SpaceX's Grok makes AI child porn". The message refers to past criticism surrounding Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI and later integrated into SpaceX's business operations. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2026 Stats Mexico vs South Africa first match Grok Controversy Resurfaces Ahead of IPOThe protest comes as investors closely examine SpaceX's public offering documents. According to the company's S-1 filing, SpaceX acknowledged that Grok's not-safe-for-work features could expose the company to "heightened risks" and "reputational harm" because the AI system could potentially generate "nonconsensual or exploitative imagery." The issue has drawn scrutiny from regulators, child-safety groups and critics of generative AI technology. Earlier this year, Musk responded to concerns by saying: "anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." Meanwhile, the official X account stated that its policy has: "zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation." SAIN Issues Warning to InvestorsThe organisation behind the inflatable said the display was designed to send a message to potential SpaceX investors before trading begins. In a statement, SAIN said: "The goal of this effigy of Musk is to deliver a simple warning to investors: Musk built a dangerous and exploitative AI, covered up the damage, merged it with SpaceX, and is now selling the liability to the public at $135 a share." The group added: "SpaceX shareholders are on the hook for every Grok lawsuit, criminal investigation, and regulatory fine that is coming." SAIN continued its criticism by comparing the inflatable itself to Musk's business empire: "While this inflatable is a fitting metaphor -- much like Musk and his companies, it is inflated, full of hot air, and could pop at any minute -- it serves as a warning to investors eager to buy into Musk's SpaceX IPO on Friday morning." SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reports indicate the inflatable was scheduled to remain on display in Times Square until Thursday evening. Another Message References Musk's Ketamine UseThe inflatable also featured a tattoo on its arm showing a heart alongside the word "ketamine." The reference appears linked to Musk's previous comments about using ketamine. In 2024, Musk said he takes a small amount of ketamine "every other week" to help manage mental states "like depression." Not the First Giant Musk ProtestThis is not the first time oversized Musk-themed protest art has appeared in public. In 2025, following staffing cuts at the National Park Service linked to government efficiency initiatives, another large sculpture depicting Musk was reportedly seen travelling through several US national parks on a trailer as part of an anonymous protest campaign.