Despite her father's public apology, Elle King maintains that her childhood experiences were "toxic and very silly."
Elle King is speaking out about her challenging relationship with her father, comedian Rob Schneider. In a recent interview with People magazine, the 35-year-old country singer addressed the backlash she received after revealing details of her upbringing on her "Dumb Blonde" podcast.
King, who has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, shared that she would often go "four or five years without talking to" her father. She also discussed being sent to fat camp and feeling lost on her father's movie sets.
Elle King Breaks Silence on 'Toxic' Relationship with Father Rob Schneider
Despite her open criticism, King emphasized that she was not trying to hurt her father. "I never in a million years thought that that was going to go viral," she said. "I was just speaking about my childhood and about my truth."
She added, "A lot of people said, 'How could she say that about her family?' and 'Everything needs to be behind closed doors.' No, it doesn't. Sometimes you have to just say things and get them off your chest so that you don't have to carry it for the rest of your life."
Elle King Breaks Silence on 'Toxic' Relationship with Father Rob Schneider
King's comments sparked a public apology from Schneider, but she said it meant nothing to her. "He's just not nice," she said. "You can want someone to change so much; you can't control anyone else's actions. You can't control people's feelings."
King recalled an incident where she received cupcakes from her summer school class on her 18th birthday, only to find out that her father had forgotten about it. "I spent my 18th birthday in a summer school, and they brought me cupcakes, and I came home, and my dad forgot my birthday," she said.
Elle King Breaks Silence on 'Toxic' Relationship with Father Rob Schneider
She also spoke about her father's comments on drag and anti-gay rights, saying, "You're talking out your a--, and you're talking sh-- about drag and, you know, anti-gay rights, and it's like... get f---ed. I want to use this opportunity to say I disagree. I do not agree with what he says."
King's story resonated with many who have experienced similar struggles with their parents. She emphasized the importance of speaking out about one's experiences, saying, "I'm going to keep speaking out. I'm going to keep telling my story. I've got a lot more to say."
Since her initial comments, King has received support from her husband and fellow musician Dan Tooker, who took to Instagram to defend her. "I'm proud of you for your bravery and honesty," Tooker wrote. "You deserve to be heard, and your story matters."
