Elle King says dad Rob Schneider forgot 'every single birthday'

Elle KingPhoto bySarah Morris, Getty for The Recording Academy

Elle King, the singer known for hits like "Ex's & Oh's," is getting candid about her relationship with her father, comedian Rob Schneider. In a preview clip shared on TikTok, King discussed her strained relationship with Schneider on the "Dumb Blonde" podcast, hosted by Bunnie XO.

In the video, King reveals that she often went years without talking to her father. She shared a poignant memory of her 18th birthday, which she spent in summer school, saying, "They brought me cupcakes, and I came home and my dad forgot my birthday." King also recounted times when Schneider was absent during significant moments of her life, including being sent to a "fat camp" during her childhood, which led to further tension between them.

King mentioned that if she ever spent a summer with her father, it was usually on one of his movie sets, referencing his 1999 film, "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo," in which she made an appearance.

She also disclosed that Schneider once called her demanding she stop discussing him in the media. Additionally, King expressed disagreements with Schneider’s public comments on drag queens and LGBTQ+ rights, criticizing his recent social media posts on these topics.

The TikTok clip ends with Bunnie XO noting that Schneider was once her "childhood crush," but their conversation has altered that perception.

The full interview will be released on Monday. Elle King was born in 1989 to Rob Schneider and his then-wife London King.

The couple divorced in 1990, and King was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather, Justin.

Despite the distance during her early career, King has mentioned that she and Schneider eventually reconnected, describing their relationship as "beautiful" with "awesome boundaries" in a 2023 interview with People.

King has also faced challenges in her personal life, including backlash for a drunken performance at a Dolly Parton tribute concert earlier this year.

She recently spoke about seeking help and attending a "therapeutic program" following the incident, revealing the intense personal struggles she was going through at the time. "Ultimately, I couldn’t continue existing in that high level of pain," she said on the "Off the Vine" podcast.

King's openness about her father and personal struggles provides a deeper understanding of her journey and resilience.