Elias Phoenix was once known as the energetic child piano prodigy who charmed television audiences with his performances. Now 20, Phoenix is opening up about a much darker side of his childhood, alleging that years of physical and emotional abuse by his late mother and twin brother, Zion, contributed to struggles with anorexia, depression and suicidal thoughts.
The musician, who appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and competed on America's Got Talent, shared a series of posts and videos on X detailing what he says happened while he was growing up. Phoenix described his survival as 'genuinely a miracle', while making clear that the experiences he discussed had a lasting impact on his life.
#AGT pic.twitter.com/5eGicWWt3o
— Zion Phoenix (@angel_zion) June 21, 2016
Elias Phoenix's Troubled Childhood
Phoenix began sharing videos on social media, including footage from 2017 that he said captured incidents involving his mother while he was preparing for an audition for the Juilliard School.
The footage appeared to show his mother shouting at him and using expletives. Phoenix's mother has since died from cancer.
He also made further allegations about his family life, claiming that Zion once locked him out of their home and that his mother blamed him for her cancer. Phoenix described the alleged behaviour as part of a much longer pattern of mistreatment, and not an isolated incident.
'these mfs would abuse tf outta me physically and emotionally directly before shows, especially during the later ones,' he wrote on X.
came across sum videos of me being forced to audition for juilliard second year in a row (these were 2017, it was an hour before deadline). as seen, zion and mom would mentally torture me, zion locked me out the house at one point, and mom is blaming me for her dying of cancer pic.twitter.com/F3a1bIQ5lI
— elias phoenix (@EliasTheKid) September 16, 2026
genuinely a miracle I’m still alive. I been battling tf outta everything that has come from the decades of dealing with this shit (anorexia from them both calling me fat repeatedly, constant self hate, fear of ever playing music again, and really bad suicidal ideation/depression)
— elias phoenix (@EliasTheKid) September 16, 2026
Detailing His Mental Health Struggles
Phoenix also spoke about the effect he says those experiences had on him. He alleged that comments about his weight contributed to him developing anorexia. He also described experiencing intense self-hatred, depression and suicidal thoughts during his struggles.
'somehow i continue to thrive, and stay surprisingly insanely Elias Phoenix thru everything, and im so thankful to still be fighting for me,' he stated.
Phoenix's posts describe what he says was a difficult period spanning much of his childhood. His account offers his perspective on what was happening away from the cameras while he was gaining attention as a young performer.
Rise to Television Fame
Phoenix first attracted attention as a young pianist. In 2013, when he was only 7, he performed at Carnegie Hall before making his Ellen debut in January 2014.
During that appearance, Phoenix spoke about his ambitions and performed for the studio audience. He later returned to the programme with Zion, with the twins becoming known for performing together.
The brothers went on to audition for season 11 of America's Got Talent in 2016. Their piano performance earned four yes votes from the judges, although they later withdrew from the competition before the Judge Cuts.
For viewers who remember Phoenix from those early appearances, his recent revelations paint a very different picture of what he says life was like outside the spotlight.
Phoenix Returns To Making Music
Despite everything he has described, Phoenix says music remains part of his life.
He recently began sharing music again, including the song 'arewestilllive', which he uploaded to YouTube in August. The release marked his first upload to the platform in six years.
Phoenix has also spoken about finding freedom in making beats privately, without the pressure of being directed by someone else. On X, he wrote: 'I make beats now, made by only me, heard by only me, made for only me, and there's comfort in knowing no one is making me do it'.
