Ellie Kemp
Elon Musk's ex Grimes issued a lengthy statement after the tech billionaire was accused of making a 'Nazi salute' during President Trump's inauguration.
On Monday (January 20), Donald Trump was officially sworn into the White House as the 47th President of the United States and for his second term since 2021.
However, during his inauguration celebration, the Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder, Musk, appeared to make a 'Nazi salute' in the Capitol One Arena, Washington.
The 53-year-old appeared to be thrilled about the prospect of sending a man to Mars and planting an American flag, during which the X owner thumped his chest and shot his right arm out towards the sky.
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The world's richest man commented: "Thank you for making it happen. Thank you, my heart goes out to you," before turning back to the audience and repeating the bizarre gesture towards the American flag.
Dozens of viewers flooded social media with their thoughts on the matter, accusing Musk of making a 'Sieg Heil' as clear as day' - and not only once, but twice.
Meanwhile Tesla owners were left uncomfortable by Musk's actions.
Musk himself addressed the comments on his Twitter account, while the Anti-Defamation League claimed it was an 'awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm' as opposed to a 'Nazi salute'.
Now, singer Grimes - who shares children X Æ A-Xii, 4, Exa Dark Sideræl, 3, and Techno Mechanicus, 2 with the tech entrepreneur - has addressed the situation.
She issued a lengthy response via X after a fan threatened to unfollow the Canadian native and 'cover up' their tattoo of her.
"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," Grimes - who dated Musk between 2018 and 2022 - began.
The musician vowed to research the incident in more detail before properly responding, adding: "It's absurd that someone can be this cancelled for something their ex did before they even heard it happened.
"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."
She added she wasn't asking for 'sympathy,' continuing in part: "I choose my children's wellbeing. 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."
Grimes and Musks' youngest two children were born via surrogate and in 2021, while X Æ A-Xii was born naturally.
In 2021, the year their daughter Exa arrived, Musk also welcomed twins with Neuralink director Shivon Zilis.
He and Zilis welcomed a third child last year.
Grimes had previously told Vanity Fair she and 'love of my life' Musk had always wanted 'at least three or four' children.
Musk has a total of 12 kids with three different women.