Grimes Denounces Nazism Following Ex Elon Musk's Controversial One-Armed Gesture as She Insists 'I Am Not Him'

Mar. 15, 2025

Elon Musk; Grimes.Photo:Christopher Furlong/Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty

Christopher Furlong/Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty

Grimesis responding after a video of exElon Muskmaking aone-armed gestureat one ofPresident Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities went viral online.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, one Grimes fan account onXwrote in regards to the viral clip: “I’m more than willing so sacrifice my grimes follow and get a tattoo coverup for this btw. i’m hitting a breaking point.”

The “Oblivion” singer, 36,responded with a lengthy post on social media, denouncing Nazism and saying she wants to avoid adding to the conversation. Grimes and Musk were first linked in 2018 and have dated on and off. The singer and tech billionaireshare three children.

The “Genesis” performer added, “I’ve just gotten out of breakfast and have to catch a flight, and am still debating how to approach things diplomatically because I feel in over my head. But if there’s concern about that, I am happy to set the record strait [sic] in a meaningful way.”

Elon Musk in 2025.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

In a reply to the fan, Grimes' initial statement began, “While I deeply respect your concern- it is unhealthy that people are this upset when I have not even been online yet today and am only just learning about this controversy now,” she began. “I don’t know what happened and I will not make a rash statement - I am not a citizen of this country.” [Grimes is Canadian.]

The “We Appreciate Power” artist said she would “research the state of affairs” tomorrow but wouldn’t “say something that will create an international scandal” in the meantime.

“It’s absurd that someone can be this cancelled for something their ex did before they even heard it happened,” she continued. “I am not him. I will not make a statement every time he does something. I can only send love back into a world that is hurting.”

“Otherwise I’m just adding to the desensitization,” she added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Elon Musk and Grimes in 2018.Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty

Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty

Grimes said she could “go talk s— and be on a bunch of magazine covers and be a feminist hero and get clout,” but it wouldn’t be meaningful.

“I choose my children’s wellbeing,” she continued. “I promise you it doesn’t feel good to be hated all the time for things I don’t even know about, cannot predict and cannot control. But I also chose this path, I accept it. I make the best of it, and I simply wish happiness and health to all.”

She then signed off the post, writing, “Godspeed.”

Musk responded to the hand-gesture controversy on Tuesday, Jan. 21 after it sparked a major debate online.

“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,“he wrote on X, seemingly shrugging it off. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” he added with a sleeping emoji.

source: people.com