Giant Inflatable Elon Musk Invades Times Square With a Warning for SpaceX Investors

TLDR

• A 40-foot inflatable of Elon Musk appeared in Times Square on June 11, one day before the SpaceX IPO.
• The protest was organised by Safe AI Now (SAIN), a coalition of child-safety and faith groups.
• The effigy carried tattoos referencing Grok’s alleged generation of sexual images of children.
• SpaceX’s IPO listed on the Nasdaq on June 12, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation and $75 billion raise.
• SAIN warned investors that SpaceX shareholders would be liable for future Grok-related lawsuits and fines.

A 40-foot inflatable figure of Elon Musk appeared overnight in New York’s Times Square on June 11, 2026. The stunt was timed one day before SpaceX’s stock market debut.

The effigy showed Musk shirtless, smiling, and wearing a baseball cap. It was covered in tattoos referencing his AI chatbot Grok and his reported ketamine use.

The protest was organised by Safe AI Now, known as SAIN. The group describes itself as a coalition of faith leaders, child-safety organisations, and other individuals.

SAIN said the inflatable was intended as a warning to potential SpaceX investors. The group said the display would remain up until 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.

What the Inflatable Said

The message referenced allegations that Grok, the xAI chatbot acquired by SpaceX earlier in 2026, had been used to produce sexual images of children.

SpaceX acknowledged Grok’s NSFW capabilities in its S-1 filing last month. The company warned investors that this mode could cause “reputational harm” and generate “nonconsensual or exploitative imagery.”

SpaceX IPO Details

SpaceX listed on the Nasdaq on June 12, 2026. It is expected to raise $75 billion, giving the company a valuation of $1.75 trillion.

The listing is expected to be the largest IPO in history. SpaceX shares were priced at $135 each.

This was not the first time a large Musk effigy was used in protest. In 2025, a sculpture of Musk appeared in several national parks following cuts to the National Park Service led by DOGE.

The SpaceX IPO goes ahead as planned on June 12, making it the most watched market event of 2026.

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