From the outside, it really seems like Alix Earle has the perfect life. After all, she’s a richer-than-god queen of TikTok, she’s dating a hot football player who worships her, and she’s smashing it on Dancing with the Stars every week. (Like, I wouldn’t even object to them hiring her as a pro dancer next season.) But in reality, the influencer’s life hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows… She actually had to overcome some serious childhood trauma to get to where she has today.

When Alix was a little kid, her dad had a very high-profile affair, which led to her parents’ 2013 divorce. At a tender age, Alix had to navigate a major family scandal and figure out a relationship with her brand new stepmom. While the content creator doesn’t speak about her dad’s affair too often, she has reflected on the challenging period during a select few interviews, including her Call Her Daddy appearance. Here’s a full breakdown of Alix Earle’s dad’s affair drama.

Alex Earle Parents Divorce Drama, Explained

Did Alix Earle’s Dad Cheat On Her Mom?

Back in 2008, Alix’s dad, Thomas Earle, made headlines when his affair with Ashley Dupré came to light. A few years prior, Ashley had been in the news for having a sex scandal with the former governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer.

Suddenly, the Earles had to deal with paparazzi and public scrutiny. “I remember the day very clearly,” Alix shared on Call Her Daddy in September 2023. “Paparazzi had shown up at my house and my mom quickly kind of got me and my sister out of the house over to our cousins. We stayed there for a few days and I had no idea what was going on.” She added, “I didn’t know they were paparazzi. I thought news broadcasters were interviewing the neighbors.” That’s a lot for an 8-year-old to absorb.

Thomas and Alix’s mother, Alisa Earle, eventually divorced in 2013, and Thomas and Ashley got married that same year. During the CHD episode, Alix explained that she didn’t understand the “severity” of what had happened between her parents. “My mom was super, super mature about it and didn’t speak to us about it and didn’t put that stress that she was going through onto us,” she said. “I kind of figured it out myself and then I proceeded to deal with it myself.”

In an August 2023 interview with Elle, Alix described her family as “very modern.” These days, she has a close relationship with both of her parents as well as Ashley. “It’s normal for me to have my dad, my mom, and my stepmom all going on the same trips,” she noted. Alix emphasized that her family has now moved past all the drama.

Thomas and Ashley share three kids: Izabel, Penelope, and Thomas. The fam has been supporting Alix at DWTS shows!