Canadian musician Grimes, born Claire Elise Boucher, recently shared insights into the emotional and financial challenges she faced during a year-long custody battle with tech billionaire Elon Musk. Speaking openly on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, Grimes described how the legal struggle over their three children deeply affected her mental health, creative pursuits, and sense of self as a mother.
The custody dispute centered on their children: four-year-old X Æ A-XII, affectionately known as “baby X,” and two-year-old twins Exa Dark Sideræl and Tau Techno Mechanicus.
Grimes revealed that the ordeal left her emotionally depleted and on the brink of financial ruin. “I was going bankrupt,” she confessed, adding that the fear of losing her children and financial stability stifled her creativity. “I just slept and cried every minute I wasn’t actively fighting for my kids,” she shared, explaining the absence of new projects during that period.
The legal proceedings reportedly concluded in December 2023, though the details remain confidential. Despite the resolution, Grimes admitted the experience left lasting scars on her artistic drive.
Reflecting on the transformative nature of motherhood, Grimes described it as a deeply profound journey. “Babies are like ten thousand philosophy classes rolled into one. It’s a form of learning you can only experience through parenting,” she wrote.
However, she also criticized the challenges faced by mothers in the legal system. “I spent a year locked in battle in a state with terrible mothers’ rights. Even my Instagram posts and modeling work were used against me as reasons I shouldn’t have custody of my kids,” she disclosed, adding that she was separated from one of her children for five months during the fight.
Grimes also commented on Musk’s evolving personality, expressing sadness over the changes she observed. “He’s become unrecognizable compared to the person I fell in love with,” she remarked. Despite the emotional toll, she acknowledged the experience as a defining chapter of her life, saying, “I fought for my kids and detached from the love of my life, all while having only a fraction of his resources.”
Elon Musk, who is a father to 12 children, has been outspoken about his commitment to having a large family and addressing global population decline. In addition to his children with Grimes, he shares six with his first wife, Justine Wilson, and two with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
