‘My stepdad’s Indian’: Grimes reflects on upbringing amid anti-India controversy

Elon Musk’s former partner, Canadian singer Grimes, has sparked widespread conversation after revealing her connection to Indian culture amidst a wave of anti-India sentiment on American social media. The uproar followed Sriram Krishnan’s appointment to the Donald Trump administration, which triggered a barrage of racist posts targeting Indians.
Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, was quick to defend the Indian community, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share her thoughts. “Suddenly concocting anti-Indian energy out of nowhere is embarrassing y’all. Also, they were clear they planned to do this,” she wrote, referring to what she described as a coordinated attack.

A childhood steeped in Indian culture
In a heartfelt post, Grimes shared that she grew up in a half-Indian household after her mother married Ravi Sidhoo, the director of Vancouver-based East India Carpets. “My stepdad’s Indian. I had a fire childhood in a half-Indian household. Indian culture jives very well with Western culture,” she wrote.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Grimes often observed the cultural fusion in her upbringing, which she now sees as a strength. “We’ve already flooded India with American gadgets, causing them problems. But if we had sent more companies, they would’ve benefitted through job creation,” she clarified in response to comments on her post.
A debate on jobs and visas
Grimes’ remarks touched on the larger controversy surrounding outsourcing and immigration, particularly the H1B visa program that allows skilled foreign workers to live and work in the US. Many Americans argue that these visas contribute to job losses at home, a claim that has reignited debates about globalization and economic policies.