When someone else managed to rescue trapped young cave divers without using Elons terrible idea that wouldn't have worked. Elon called him a pedo guy. For context, it was in Thailand, so maybe that's just the first thing that comes to mind for Elon if someone visits Thailand.
I could see it just being a shitty stereotype he tossed off, if he didn't follow it up with hiring a fucking private investigator to try to dig up dirt on the guy.
He legit tried to ruin that man's life because he told him his idea was not productive.