Italian
Elle King opens up about her strained relationship with Rob Schneider
A candid conversation on the ‘Dumb Blonde’ podcast
In a recent episode of the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Elle King shared some deeply personal insights about her tumultuous relationship with her father, Rob Schneider. The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer didn’t hold back, especially when discussing Schneider’s controversial views on drag and the LGBTQ community.
Disagreeing with her father’s views
In a teaser clip posted on TikTok, King expressed her strong disapproval of Schneider’s outspoken opinions. “I disagree with a lot of the things that he says,” she stated. “You’re talking out of your ass and you’re talking shit about drag and, you know, anti-gay rights. And it’s like, get fucked.”
Schneider’s controversial comments
In late July, Schneider took to social media to voice his outrage over the Olympics opening ceremony, which he interpreted as a disrespectful tableau of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Instead of Jesus and his disciples, the scene featured drag queens and other colorfully dressed figures. Schneider’s reaction was harsh: “I am sorry to say to all the world’s greatest athletes, I wish you all the best, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan,” he wrote. “I sincerely hope these Olympics get the same amount of viewers as CSPAN.”
He continued in a follow-up post: “Guys with their genitalia hanging out in front of children?! Drag Queens?! I wasn’t sure if I was watching the Olympics or if I was watching a school board meeting.”
A distant father-daughter relationship
King revealed that she wasn’t very close to her father during her childhood. Their relationship only began to develop when she was much older. “When I had the opportunity to spend time with my dad as a child, it was on a movie set, where I would often get lost in the shuffle,” she explained. “If I ever messed up a shot, if I was talking, I would get in fucking trouble.”
Struggles with appearance and self-expression
A significant source of tension between King and Schneider was her appearance. King, who was a “really, really heavy child,” was sent to fat camp by her father. “I got in trouble one year because I sprained my ankle and didn’t lose any weight,” she recounted. “I had already started getting tattooed and it was like 108 degrees. So I had to wear sweaters because my dad was very anti-tattoos or any form of self-expression.”
No plans for reconciliation
King made it clear that she has no intention of mending her relationship with Schneider. “He’s just not nice,” she said. ”You can want someone to change so much. You can’t control anyone else’s actions and you can’t control people’s feelings. All you can control is how you react and what you do with your feelings.”
Personal reflections
As a fan of cinema, TV series, and music, it’s always intriguing to see how personal relationships and family dynamics influence an artist’s work. Elle King’s candidness about her strained relationship with her father adds a layer of depth to her music, making her songs resonate even more with listeners who may have experienced similar familial challenges.
For those interested in exploring more about Elle King’s music, you can find her latest tracks on Spotify.
Final thoughts
Elle King’s story is a powerful reminder of the complexities of family relationships and the impact they can have on one’s personal and professional life. Her willingness to speak openly about her experiences not only sheds light on her own journey but also offers solace to others who may be navigating similar paths.
