Elle King Shares How Autism Diagnosis Changed Her Life

Elle King Shares How Autism Diagnosis Changed Her Life

Elle King is detailing her private journey.

The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer detailed her recent autism diagnosis, sharing that she was diagnosed after competing on Fox’s new game show, Nation’s Dumbest, which premieres July 15.

“I love games. I love game shows. I’m extremely competitive, and I love puzzles and everything,” King shared with Us Weekly in an interview published July 14. “I actually found out right after the show that I’m autistic, and so I was like, ‘Everything makes so much sense now.’ But I didn’t even know.”

“Right before the show, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,” the 37-year-old continued. “[I was] starting to panic, ‘There is a scenario that you could be the nation’s dumbest.’”

But after taking two different IQ exams—which she said both of which gave her a score of 132 when the average IQ is 100—she was hopeful about her prospects, especially after she received her diagnosis.

“I’ve had a lot of not my proudest moments, and so especially with my autism diagnosis, I am putting new kinds of safety barricades,” King explained, “and I just want to be around people that I feel safe around, and I just want to do things that bring me joy.”

Plus, the musician—who shares son Lucky, 4, and Royal, 16 months, with partner Daniel Tooker—found that it not only helped put much of her daily life in perspective, it also helped her appreciate her role as an artist and a performer.

Frank Micelotta/Fox via Getty Images

“I keep telling myself whatever this next chapter is, I really want to be present and enjoy it,” the Grammy nominee said. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”

King, the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider and London King, first discussed her diagnosis in May, posting a video of herself singing to Instagram and writing in the caption, “good news is, im autistic.”

In the video, she can be heard singing what appears to be an unreleased track with the lyrics, “What if no one understands me? Will I always be this way? What's the price to pay for a broken soul? Would I rather die than try to change?”

“I wish I could show you how it feels, but every time I try I'm still so empty. I have had to carry all these failures. Sometimes I just wish that you would let me,” King continued singing. “Oh, I don't know what will save me from myself. Oh, I don't know who will save me from myself. Oh lord, who will save me from myself? Oh lord, who will save me from myself?”

For more celebs who have been candid about their own mental health journeys, keep reading.

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