Canadian singer Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, has recently revealed the heartbreaking reason behind why she was “not allowed” to see her child following her tumultuous split from Elon Musk. The mother-of-three, who was in a highly publicized on-and-off relationship with Musk from 2018 to 2022, has endured a grueling custody battle that left deep emotional scars.
Grimes and Musk share three children: their four-year-old son X Æ A-12 (commonly called X), daughter Exa Dark Sideræl (three years old), and son Tau Techno Mechanicus (two years old). The couple welcomed their first child in 2020, and while their relationship once captured the public’s imagination, it soon devolved into bitter legal disputes over custody and parental rights.
The latest controversy erupted when Musk, in a move that Grimes vehemently disapproved of, took their eldest son X to a press conference at the White House during a meeting with former President Donald Trump. Grimes expressed her discontent on Twitter, lamenting, “He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I’m glad he was polite. Sigh.” Her public statement not only underscored her ongoing struggles with the custody arrangement but also highlighted the stark differences in how she and Musk handle their parental responsibilities in the public eye.
For Grimes, the custody battle has been an excruciating experience. In previous social media posts, she detailed the immense toll the legal wrangling took on her mental and emotional well-being. She recounted a period of almost a year where she was “locked in battle” in a jurisdiction that, in her view, has terrible mothers’ rights. Grimes revealed that her personal life was so overwhelmed by the struggle for custody that she was unable to pursue her creative passions. “I just slept and cried every minute I wasn’t explicitly fighting for my kids during that year,” she admitted, explaining that the constant threat of losing her children while facing financial ruin left little room for anything else, including new music.
The custody dispute, which involved not only bitter legal battles but also a very public exchange of words on social media, has only intensified since the split. Grimes has been forced to navigate a system that she feels is skewed against mothers, using her own personal tragedy as a rallying cry for change. In one of her candid posts, she mentioned that her Instagram and modeling activities were unfairly used as evidence against her, ultimately contributing to her prolonged separation from her children. “Having my Instagram posts and modeling used as reasons I shouldn’t have my kids… It’s been a year of detachment from the love of my life as he becomes unrecognizable to me,” she lamented.
Despite the custody battle reportedly being resolved, the wounds remain deep. Grimes’ sorrow is palpable as she discusses the painful reality of not having seen one of her babies for five months. Much of her harrowing experience, she says, must remain private, with only fragments shared with the public. This ongoing battle has not only affected her emotionally but has also had a profound impact on her career, as she once declared that she would not release new music until her personal situation stabilized.
The public dispute between Grimes and Musk is further complicated by Musk’s high-profile lifestyle and his status as a tech mogul with twelve children from relationships with three different women. His public appearances with their son X, especially at such significant events as a White House press conference, continue to fuel the controversy and paint a picture of a fractured family dynamic.
Grimes’ emotional outpouring has resonated with many who see her as a victim of a skewed custody system. Her candid admissions about sleepless nights and constant tears provide a sobering glimpse into the personal cost of high-profile custody disputes. In her own words, she is desperate to find a way to secure more meaningful access to her children and restore a semblance of a normal family life.
As the drama unfolds, the public remains captivated by the saga of Grimes and Elon Musk—a story of lost love, bitter legal battles, and the enduring struggle of a mother fighting for her right to be with her children.
