OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a public statement on X (formerly Twitter) denying allegations made by his sister, Ann Altman, in a lawsuit accusing him of years of sexual abuse between 1997 and 2006. The statement, co-signed by Sam, his mother, and his brother, dismisses the claims as “utterly untrue” and expresses concern for Ann’s mental health.
Statement from Sam Altman and Family
The family’s statement begins with an expression of concern for Ann’s well-being, highlighting her alleged struggles with mental health:
“Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult.”
The statement outlines the family’s attempts to support Ann over the years, including financial aid, assistance with housing, medical support, and employment opportunities.
“Despite this, Annie continues to demand more money from us. In this vein, Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, and especially Sam. We’ve chosen not to respond publicly, out of respect for her privacy and our own. However, she has now taken legal action against Sam, and we feel we have no choice but to address this.”
Claims in the Lawsuit
Ann Altman has alleged that her brother Sam sexually abused her as a child, and the lawsuit includes incidents that reportedly occurred after Sam turned 18. The statement notes that Ann has made previous allegations against other individuals and accused family members of various wrongdoings, including:
- Withholding their father’s 401k funds.
- Hacking her Wi-Fi.
- “Shadowbanning” her on platforms like ChatGPT, Twitter, and others.
The family asserts that these allegations have “evolved drastically over time.”
Family’s Position
The Altmans call the claims “utterly untrue,” adding that the situation has caused “immense pain” to the entire family:
“This situation causes immense pain to our entire family. It is especially gut-wrenching when she refuses conventional treatment and lashes out at family members who are genuinely trying to help.”
Legal and Public Fallout
The lawsuit has brought attention to the personal life of Sam Altman, a prominent tech entrepreneur known for his leadership at OpenAI and previous ventures. Altman’s team has not yet commented further on the legal proceedings or potential court dates.
The allegations and the family’s response will likely continue to garner significant media attention, given Altman’s high-profile status.
