Trigger warning: This story discusses alleged childhood abuse, emotional and physical abuse, and suicidal thoughts.Elias Phoenix, the former child piano prodigy who became known after appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show at age 7, has opened up about his troubled childhood and the alleged emotional and physical abuse he says he experienced at the hands of his mother and twin brother, Zion. In an extensive interview with PEOPLE, Phoenix, now 20, spoke about his childhood fame, the pressure he experienced at home and the years-long process of coming to terms with his past.After nearly a decade away from the spotlight, Phoenix recently shared a series of videos and posts on X detailing what he describes as years of abuse within his family.“I’m finally Elias Phoenix,” he told the publication. “And I will always continue to be Elias Phoenix.”
Elias Phoenix rose to fame as a child piano prodigy
Phoenix was just 7 when his extraordinary piano talent brought him national attention. He had already performed twice at Carnegie Hall and earned second place at the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition.His growing recognition led to an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014, where his cheerful personality and musical ability made him a memorable young guest.Looking back, Phoenix says those television appearances represented a period when he could truly be himself.The performances were “amazing,” he recalled, describing them as “almost an escape, a way I could actually be me, energetic, happy, and unburdened.”Phoenix said his enthusiasm during the show was completely genuine.“When I went out there, no one told me to act excited and overjoyed — I just naturally did from being so excited and overjoyed,” he said.He also remembered DeGeneres warmly, describing her as “the kindest and most genuine celebrity” he had met and recalling that she continued speaking with him after filming ended.
Phoenix alleges he suffered abuse at home
Behind his public image as a happy and gifted young performer, however, Phoenix says his home life was vastly different.He alleges that his mother and brother repeatedly subjected him to emotional and physical abuse during his childhood. Videos he recently shared online appear to show his mother shouting at him while he was recording an audition for the Juilliard School.Phoenix has described his family’s alleged treatment of him as “torture” and wrote in one social media post that it was a “miracle” he was still alive.He also alleges that his mother and brother repeatedly made comments about his weight and called him fat. According to Phoenix, the experience contributed to an eating disorder that he says has continued to affect him into adulthood.He further alleges that his mother physically assaulted him and describes discovering an email exchange between his mother and brother that he says reinforced how negatively they viewed him.The allegations have not been independently established in the material provided. Zion has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the publication.
‘It freed me’: How his mother’s death changed Phoenix’s perspective
Phoenix says he began confronting his childhood experiences after his mother died in 2020, when he was still a teenager.He told the publication that her death gave him the opportunity to process emotions he had previously been unable to confront.“It freed me,” he said. “I was finally able to process everything that happened.”Phoenix says he has struggled with severe emotional distress in the years since his childhood experiences. He said he experienced suicidal thoughts over the past three years and only recently began feeling that he was moving toward a healthier place.“The lingering effects are still kicking my ass,” he said. “I have zero self-love from this.”
Phoenix’s relationship with his twin brother
Phoenix’s relationship with his twin brother, Zion, remains complicated.According to Phoenix, the brothers reconnected through email in 2023 after several years apart and met again in person in 2025. He says the reunion ended badly and that he subsequently spent three days receiving psychiatric care while attempting to process what he says his brother had done to him.Phoenix now says he does not want further contact with Zion.“There is a ‘hurt people hurt people’ cycle I have spent my whole life trying with all my strength to avoid,” he said. “I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”He added that he hopes his brother will eventually recognise the impact of his alleged actions and seek healing.Zion has not responded to requests for comment.
Why Elias Phoenix decided to speak publicly
Phoenix says revisiting the videos of his childhood abuse was deeply unsettling because he had forgotten many of the specific incidents.“This almost feels like it was a different life,” he said, explaining that hearing his mother’s voice in the recordings brought back the fear he experienced as a child.Despite the difficulty of revisiting those memories, Phoenix says he decided to share them publicly because he wanted to tell his story and offer reassurance to others experiencing abuse.“Just because someone is your mom doesn’t mean they get a pass to abuse you and ruin your life,” he said. “You don’t owe them your forgiveness. Sometimes, biological family isn’t your real family, and that’s not your fault.”
From child star to reclaiming his identity
Phoenix says the public response to his revelations has been unexpectedly meaningful.For years, he says, the public primarily knew him as the cheerful child piano prodigy who appeared on television. Now, he feels people are seeing a much more complicated version of his life.“My public self has always been the child piano prodigy on TV shows,” he said. “But this depressed, abused, imperfect, anorexic and sad Elias has been given more public love in just a couple days than I ever previously had from the me I was forcing myself to be.”Disclaimer: The allegations of abuse are based on Elias Phoenix’s account and have not been independently verified. His twin brother Zion has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the publication.
