Elle King Says She Wasn’t “Trying to Hurt” Dad Rob Schneider With Comments About Their Relationship

Elle King had no idea her recent comments about her relationship with dad Rob Schneider would go as viral as they did.

The artist sat down with People and revealed that she “never in a million years” would’ve thought they would become so widespread.

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“I was just speaking about my childhood and about my truth. I was not trying to hurt him,” she told the publication. “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.”

In her comments on Bunnie XO’s podcast Dumb Blonde in August, King said that she and Schneider had a “toxic” relationship and were “not flowing” right now, in part because of his “anti-gay rights” and general political views. He wasn’t really involved in her life when she was growing up, she said, and when he was, it was to send her to fat camp or comment on her weight.

Following the “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer’s comments on the podcast, the controversial actor took a moment to apologize to his daughter while appearing on Tucker Carlson’s show, noting that he loves her very much and wished he would’ve been the father in his 20s that she needed.

“I wish you the best. I feel terrible, and I just want you to know that I don’t take anything you say personally,” he said in part. “I feel that God has gifted this moment and gifted me to be able to tell you, I love you and I accept you and I apologize for any of my shortcomings.”

In her recent comments to People, King addressed what he had to say. “Ultimately, I think an apology on Tucker Carlson is like a double negative, right? Means nothing,” she pointed out.

The “Drunk (and I Don’t Want to Go Home)” singer is proud that her podcast appearance sparked conversations about how to be an ally.

“What I will say is the best thing that came from that is that my incredible LGBTQ+ community knows that they have an ally in me,” King said. “And if that’s the biggest thing to come out of that platform, then I would’ve done it 10 more fucking times because I am an ally, they have one in me, and I’m grateful.”

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