Influencer and conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair has made headlines after publicly naming billionaire Elon Musk as the father of her child.
While the revelation has sparked widespread speculation, a close friend insists St. Clair’s decision to go public was not an attempt to seek attention but rather an urgent response to media scrutiny.
St. Clair, 26, claimed over the weekend that she had welcomed a child with Musk five months ago. This disclosure, according to her friend and political consultant Emma-Jo Morris, came after she learned that a tabloid was investigating her private life.
“Ashley got wind that a tabloid was kicking the tires on her, and she reached out to Elon immediately,” Morris said in an interview. “He basically cut bait, and so the message was understood that she was on her own.”
St. Clair’s announcement marks the latest chapter in Musk’s personal life, as he is already known to have 12 children with three other women. The billionaire has not publicly acknowledged St. Clair’s claims, though he responded with a one-word post, “whoa,” on X after a user suggested she had spent years attempting to “ensnare” him.
According to Morris, St. Clair initially believed she and Musk would have an arrangement similar to the ones he has with his other co-parents—where he plays a peripheral role in the child’s upbringing while still offering support. However, she now feels abandoned.
“This is about letting herself tell the story before somebody else tells it for her and potentially causes her reputational damage or harm,” Morris explained.
She described St. Clair as feeling “jilted and terrified” by the situation, particularly given Musk’s high profile and the attention surrounding their alleged child.
St. Clair further claimed in a since-deleted post that Musk had asked her to remove his name from the birth certificate to maintain his privacy. She also accused him of responding publicly to online attacks against her while ignoring her private attempts to reach him.
Musk has yet to comment directly on St. Clair’s statements, and his representatives have not responded to media inquiries. However, St. Clair’s spokesperson, Brian Glicklich, confirmed that she and Musk had been privately working toward an agreement regarding their child’s upbringing.
Despite the ongoing controversy, St. Clair is reportedly focusing on her children and staying out of the spotlight for now.
“It’s been a difficult time, but Ashley is prioritizing her family,” a source close to her told PEOPLE.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear whether Musk will publicly acknowledge St. Clair’s child or address the matter further.
Independent, New York Post, and People contributed to this report.
