Sophia Michaels
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The following article mentions drug use and sexual assault.
Grimes, known as Claire Boucher, made waves in the music world with her innovative style and artistic expression. Unfortunately, her personal and professional life faced hardship, largely due to her relationship with Elon Musk. This connection drew significant media attention and alienated some of her long-time supporters.
After appearing with Musk at the 2018 Met Gala, Grimes reflected, “It’s heartbreaking how love can be beautiful yet disrupt my career,” she told Cultured magazine in 2019. While they were in love, she also faced pain and betrayal. Just as she was about to have her second child, Musk revealed he had welcomed twins with another woman. Although she forgave him, this event was deeply impactful.
Despite their split, Grimes continues to struggle, primarily due to a contentious custody dispute that separated her from her young kids. Her past, however, is marred by earlier traumas, including losing friends to addiction in her youth and experiencing sexual assault. Furthermore, she endured years of living with a mistakenly diagnosed developmental issue.
Elon Musk welcomed twins shortly before Grimes gave birth to their child
Grimes and Musk’s second child, Exa Dark Sideræl, was born in December 2021 through surrogacy due to complications in Grimes’ earlier pregnancy. However, just a month prior, Musk had twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis in November 2021. This revelation raised eyebrows regarding their unconventional arrangement.
In an unexpected twist, Grimes only learned of the twins when the news broke publicly. “Grimes felt furious,” Walter Isaacson detailed in his recent biography about Musk. Complicating matters, Grimes was at the hospital for her surrogate during Zilis’ delivery, unaware of the parallel circumstances. Over two years later, Grimes expressed her ongoing hurt when Isaacson posted an image of the twins, stating, “The situation utterly tore my family apart.” Afterward, she clarified, apologizing to Zilis and indicating she had reached a place of forgiveness.
Musk reportedly acted merely as a sperm donor for Zilis, whose pregnancy was achieved through IVF. In the following years, Musk and Grimes had another child in 2022 and later welcomed another baby with Zilis in 2024, both through surrogacy.
Grimes experienced separation from her child during her custody dispute with Musk
Following a tumultuous relationship, Grimes and Elon Musk seemed to part ways for good in March 2022, shortly before their third child, Techno “Tau” Mechanicus, was born. By September 2023, Musk initiated legal action to secure parental rights for their three children after their informal relationship. However, their custody battle quickly became complicated.
With Grimes residing in California and Musk in Texas, jurisdiction issues arose concerning their legal battle. Texas has child support limits that contrasted with California’s more liberal policies. This high-profile case, involving one of the wealthiest figures globally, promised to be convoluted, placing Grimes at a distinct disadvantage.
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Grimes Opens Up About Personal Struggles and Challenges
Grimes Discusses Custody Issues and Motherhood Struggles
On November 20, 2024, Grimes shared her emotional journey regarding the custody battle that has kept her from seeing one of her children for five months. She expressed her frustration on Twitter, stating that she has been embroiled in a lengthy legal struggle in a state with poor mothers’ rights, and highlighted how her social media presence has been used against her. “Tell Elon to let me see my son or please respond to my lawyer,” she implored in a tweet from 2023.
Grimes’ Autism Diagnosis Comes After Years of Misdiagnoses
In her 30s and while raising three children, Grimes discovered she had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She realized this after observing her own performance in assessment tests in comparison to her kids. Previously, she was misdiagnosed with conditions such as restless leg syndrome and schizoaffective disorder. Grimes described her sensory challenges, saying overly sensitive feelings could be akin to “a million burning suns.” Initially grappling with her diagnosis, she later accepted it and acknowledged the connection many of her fans share with neurodiversity.
Grimes Reflects on Troubling Past with Drug Use
In the early phases of her career, Grimes turned to drugs as a means of inspiration for her music, notably during the creation of her breakthrough album “Visions.” She shared her experiences of living in a drug-fueled haze to write music but has since distanced herself from that lifestyle. Reflecting on her past habits, she expressed her disdain for hard drugs, acknowledging the negativity they brought into her life.
Discussing the tragic impact of drugs, Grimes opened up about losing a friend to addiction at a young age and highlighted the opioid crisis in her song “Delete Forever,” illustrating the personal toll these issues take.
Grimes’ Harrowing Experience with Sexual Assault
Grimes is also a survivor of sexual assault, an experience that triggered significant trauma for her. Although she refrains from detailing the incident, she has spoken about the lasting effects it had on her mental health. Her hit song “Oblivion” serves as a powerful expression of overcoming her fears and reclaiming empowerment.
In the accompanying music video, Grimes juxtaposes her unique identity against traditionally male-dominated spaces, transforming these environments into expressions of her strength. While she acknowledges the necessity of her art, she prefers not to be defined by her trauma.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, support is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or by calling their National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault, resources can be found at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network or by contacting their National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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