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I bought a Cybertruck for my business. After receiving threats, I paid over $400 to teach my staff self-defense.

I bought the Cybertruck last November solely for business purposes — before people blew up the Cybertruck or took strong political stances on Tesla.Suzanne Rothmeyer/Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography
  • 42-year-old Vanessa Voss purchased a Cybertruck last year to help advertise her business.

  • In the last two weeks, she and her business have received threats online, over the phone, and on Reddit.

  • Voss spent $436 on a self-defense course for her office and directed her employees to leave before dark.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Vanessa Voss, a 42-year-old business owner living in Tacoma, Washington. Business Insider has verified her identity and recent harassment. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

Last year, we purchased a Cybertruck for solely business purposes.

It has our logo and branding on it, along with my photo on the front. We also have a Silverado and a Jeep Cherokee that is wrapped in my logo. It just made sense then to buy a vehicle that allowed further marketing and advertising for our business.

I’m the owner of Voss Insurance Group, an agency that helps people navigate retirement and transition to Medicare. We don’t work for the federal government but we facilitate enrolling people in prescription drug coverage, Medicare supplements, and Medicare Advantage.

Part of what my agency does is do a lot of branding and advertising related to the enrollment and Medicare process by offering free guidance and local services.

The purchase was made before people set Cybertrucks on fire or took strong political stances on Tesla. The edges of the vehicle are flat and it allows for enough description and visual components to increase our branding.

Vanessa Voss Cybertruck
We purchased a Cybertruck last year for business purposes. It has our logo and branding on it, along with my photo on the front.Vanessa Voss

As of two weeks ago, we have been harassed online, over the phone, and via email for having a Cybertruck.

The very first phone call that I received was from a gentleman saying that he was going to kill me.

The blocked caller also told me that I am a Nazi, cussed me out, and said I should kill myself. That day, I received a total of 12 phone calls, some of which were blocked and others that weren’t.

I filed a police report over the phone after the initial death threat. I tried to report every number that called and we are still documenting calls and voicemails. There’s not a lot the police can do as far as harassment unless someone shows up at our home or at our business and becomes violent. A police sergeant I’m friendly with recommended that I keep the Cybertruck in my garage until things subside though.

Collage of screenshots from Vanessa Voss
Some of the calls are from blocked numbers and others aren’t.Vanessa Voss/screenshot

The calls have continued, although they’ve died down a little since that first weekend. The callers leave voicemails saying I should be embarrassed, that we need to take the trash out, and that I’m going to need a warranty because something is going to happen to it.


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