In a rare public disclosure, musician Grimes has offered a glimpse into her co-parenting relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk, revealing a significant disagreement over their children's exposure to screens. The singer, whose real name is Claire Boucher, took to social media platform X this week to share her admiration for their offspring before candidly addressing the contentious issue.
Parenting Philosophy Divide Emerges
The 37-year-old artist, who shares three children with Musk - five-year-old son X Æ A-12, four-year-old daughter Dark Sideræl, and three-year-old son Techno Mechanicus - initially posted about her children's remarkable qualities. "I try to never talk about or show my kids because they deserve the right to anonymity but I just have to say their pure aura is unmatched," Grimes wrote in her Thursday tweet. She added an intriguing anecdote: "One of them even inexplicably commanded a flock of crows for a while. Might be biased but this seems unusual."
Screen Time Sparks "Huge Debate"
When a follower inquired whether the children receive screen time, Grimes responded with revealing honesty about the parental discord. "Huge debate [because] the other parent is fine with it but it's fairly avoided," she explained. The musician outlined her preferred approach when screen exposure does occur: "If it happens we focus on great art and ideally slower stuff like Studio Ghibli that isn't constantly changing context." This comment highlights her preference for calmer, more artistic content over fast-paced media.
Broader Co-Parenting Challenges
This screen time revelation comes against a backdrop of more serious co-parenting difficulties between Grimes and Musk. Following the birth of their third child, Grimes initiated legal proceedings in September 2023 regarding parental rights in a California court. Musk reportedly sought to keep the hearing private, requesting that documents be sealed.
In November last year, Grimes disclosed she had been engaged in a year-long custody battle during which she allegedly didn't see one of her children for five months. Musk filed for custody in Texas, where his business operations are headquartered, while Grimes counter-sued in California with a "petition to establish parental relationship" - typically the initial step for unmarried parents seeking custody arrangements.
Public Visibility Concerns
The musician has repeatedly expressed concern about her children's public exposure, creating another point of contention with Musk. Last year, the SpaceX founder brought their son X to several high-profile events, including appearances alongside former US President Donald Trump. In a February interview with Time magazine, Grimes articulated her discomfort: "I would really like people to stop posting images of my kid everywhere. I think fame is something you should consent to."
She expanded on these concerns in a March social media plea: "I have tried begging the public and my kids' dad to keep them offline. I've seen young people destroyed by the internet. The state of my children's lives being public is of grave concern to me and I think about how to solve this every day." Grimes expressed frustration with the legal system's limitations in protecting children's privacy, noting: "It's insane to me that there's no way to deal with this."
Resolution and Ongoing Impact
While a Travis County Clerk confirmed that the Texas custody dispute had been settled, specific details remain confidential. Grimes has since revealed that the legal ordeal nearly left her "bankrupt" and hindered her ability to create new music. The musician, who has publicly feuded with Musk over keeping their children out of the public eye, continues to navigate the complexities of co-parenting with one of the world's most visible figures.
This screen time disagreement represents just one aspect of their broader parenting philosophy differences, set against a landscape of legal battles and conflicting approaches to childhood privacy. As both parents continue their separate paths, their three children remain at the centre of these ongoing discussions about modern parenting in the digital age.
