Grimes Reveals Five-Month Separation from One Child Amid Custody Dispute with Elon Musk
Grimes recently shared her experience of not seeing one of her three children with ex-partner Elon Musk for five months during their custody battle. This situation arose around the ongoing dispute that began in 2023.
The singer of "Genesis," whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher, revealed some details about this challenging period. She has three children with Musk: son X Æ A-Xii, age 4; daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, age 3; and son Techno Mechanicus, age 2. Grimes and Musk ended their relationship in 2022 after four years of dating.
In a post shared on X (previously Twitter) on November 25, Grimes described her struggles: "Spent a year locked in battle in a state with terrible mothers' rights having my Instagram posts and modeling used as reasons I shouldn't have my kids." She expressed pain while witnessing Musk change before her eyes.
Grimes noted her challenges in the custody fight, stating, "I fought him with a fraction of his resources, all while I didn’t see one of my babies for five months." Despite her difficulties, Grimes preferred to keep certain aspects of this situation private, emphasizing, "This is only what can be said publicly, since most of my experience should remain behind closed doors."
Despite these hardships over the past year, the 36-year-old finds gratitude in her struggles. She mentioned, "I feel on top of the world right now," adding that these experiences have fostered a unique creativity for her next album. She noted how everything that once caused her anxiety now seems manageable, declaring, "Ego death, ego birth - it's everything an artist could dream of."
Grimes's perspective has also shifted due to motherhood. She remarked, "Having babies rips you apart and puts you back together," suggesting that the lessons learned through parenting are profound.
The custody dispute with Musk, now 53, began formally in October 2023, when Grimes filed a petition to solidify her parental rights. Their legal battles have taken place in California and Texas, remaining confidential according to reports.
Although Musk has not publicly commented on the custody situation, Grimes's mother, Sandy Garossino, previously expressed her concerns in an open letter. She accused Musk of withholding the passports of the children, thereby preventing their visit to see her sick great-grandmother.
Sandy wrote on X in July, "I write with a grandmother’s plea, asking you to honor your agreement, return the children, and provide the documents they need to see their great grandmother before she passes." She added an emotional appeal: "Please Elon, I beg you. This is so painful for my mother, and concerning for the kids. Time is of the essence now."