Grimes and Elon Musk’s sad and public conflict explained after she gives telling response to son’s White House visit
Singer Grimes and Tesla CEO Elon Musk haven't exactly had the most amicable split following their on-and-off relationship, which has been marred with a public custody battle over their kids and scathing Twitter statements.
The most recent drama between the pair came as Grimes has spoke out about Musk taking their son to the Oval Office during his meeting with Donald Trump this week.
The musician, whose real name is Claire Boucher, began dating the Tesla CEO in 2018. Together they share three children; X Æ A-Xii (X for short), Exa Dark Sideræl and Techno Mechanicus.
But where did all the conflict start? Here is a timeline of all the public conflicts related to the custody battle between Grimes and Musk.
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September 2023: Custody lawsuits filed
In September 2023, Musk filed a custody lawsuit against Grimes and she filed a countersuit.
The ‘Genesis’ singer also tweeted and then deleted a plea for Musk to let her see her child. “Tell Elon to let me see my son or plz respond to my lawyer”.
July 2024: Grimes' mum speaks out
Grimes’ mum shared a plea on Twitter for permission for her daughter to take the children to Canada to visit her.
Sandy Garossino said, per People: “I am alarmed to learn that the children cannot come as you are withholding them and their needed passport documents from Claire.
“It was even more troubling to see you and X on television at the Olympics in Paris yesterday, after your DC trip earlier in the week. Where are the other children, and with whom? They are scheduled to be with their mother. They were expected here in Canada."
August 2024: Custody battle simmers down
Grimes and Musk settled their custody dispute in Texas, Business Insider reports.
A representative from the San Francisco Superior Court said at the time it couldn't reveal details of the case.
November 2024: Grimes slams Musk on Twitter
Grimes posts a lengthy message about the custody battle on Twitter and accuses Musk of stopping her from seeing their son.
“Spent a year locked in battle in a state with terrible mothers rights,” she shared.
“Having my Instagram posts and modeling used as reasons I shouldn’t have my kids and fighting and detaching from the love of my life as he becomes unrecognisable to me, with a fraction of his resources (or iq/ strategy experience), all the while I didn’t see one of my babies for 5 months.
“And this is only what can be said publicly, since most of my experience these last years should remain behind closed doors.”
January 2025: Grimes speaks out on son's public appearances
Musk and little X make more public appearances, and after a follower calls out Grimes for letting this happen, she responds by stating: “I have made it clear I do not approve of that in every conceivable way I know how. I am desperate to solve it.
"It is a personal tragedy to me. But currently I don’t know how to do that.”
February 2025: X makes White House debut
Four-year-old X joined his father for Musk's White House debut this week.
On Tuesday (11 February), 53-year-old Musk - Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency lead - stood in the Oval Office to witness the new president signing an executive order about his role.
Not only did X interrupt his father several times while Musk was questioned about the level of authority his new government position has afforded him, but another moment saw him picking his nose before wiping his bogies on the Resolute Desk.
Grimes spoke out about this moment, writing: “He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me."
She went on to add: "But I'm glad he was polite. Sigh.”
Gregory Robinson