So, let's try to be objective about this. Tesla's viewpoint is that Cristina had an internal conflict with other managers regarding the choice of one of the suppliers [0]:
> For example, Ms. Balan was unhappy with a particular supplier that was selected by an internal group of subject matter experts who extensively studied the issue. She took it upon herself to find an alternative supplier that [...]
She herself confirms it (from original article):
> All seemed to be going well until Balan came across what she considered sketchy dealings on supplier contracts and the curling floor mats.
From her fundraiser page, she tried to spin the business disagreement into a "hot topic" gender discrimination issue:
> Soon after I’ve got into an arbitration lawsuit with Tesla based on misclassification, wrongful termination And gender discrimination.
Not knowing the details, this leaves an impression of an opportunistic person who would try all means possible to achieve what she wants, rather than trying to persuade others. The problem with such people is that they can be right in some decisions, wrong in others, but if the rest of the team has to spend 50% of their time catering to that 1 person, it's a net-negative effect on the team. You can call it unfair, but diplomacy and compromises are important if you are working with other people.
Given that, I would be skeptical about other claims she makes:
>Under duress, threatened that if I [did] not sign my resignation I would be handcuffed and dragged to the parking lot …
It's a her-word-against-his case and in such cases both sides are typically trying to bend reality in their favor.
Also, worth noting that Musk has recently announced that he's moving away from California [2], so LA times would have very good reasons for a hit piece like this one.
[0] http://deleter.net/index.php/news/5541/Business/September-11...
[1] https://www.gofundme.com/f/a86fmm-fighting-tesla-for-defamin...
[2] https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/8/22163805/elon-musk-texas-...