Roddy Ricch, the Grammy-winning rapper behind such smash songs as The Box, is at the center of a highly personal scandal — one that is spilling into the public light at the very moment that the world is looking to Autism Awareness Month. The rapper is being accused by ex-girlfriend Alexandra Kiser of leaving their three-year-old son Kadence, who is autistic, out of Easter festivities.
Alexandra, also co-parenting with Roddy, went to social media in mid-April questioning why their daughter Navy alone was included in Roddy’s Easter photos. She challenged the exclusion as not being an accurate recognition of their son, asserting that all children — particularly those with disabilities — need to be seen and celebrated.
It struck such a chord with so many parents with neurodiverse kids who tend to feel invisible. But it also brought about criticism towards the rapper, as fans and critics demanded an explanation.
Roddy Ricch wasn’t quiet for very long. In an unusual and open Instagram Story, he spoke about why he stayed in Texas over Easter.
Ricch explained that Kadence, an autism spectrum individual, was not willing to go for the photo shoot because she experienced overstimulation — one typical reaction in kids with autism when presented with crowded settings or overstimulation.
“This was Navy’s first Easter, and her first time in Los Angeles,”
he wrote.
“My son didn’t want to take photos, and I respected that. Yes, my son is autistic. No, I do not love my son any less.”
He also addressed the broader criticism from Alexandra, revealing that he had recently hosted a birthday party for Kadence attended by both sides of the family — a rare and meaningful occasion he chose not to share on social media.
“It was only the second time both my kids were in the same setting,” he said. “Some moments I choose to keep private — not everything needs to be posted.”
Ricch vented about being “ridiculed and slandered” on social media. He ended his message by wishing Easter to his followers and expressing that he was “tired of the situation.”
This is not the first occasion that the couple’s parenting style has been in question. In 2024, Ricch and Kiser ended a six-month custody battle that had attracted attention following Alexandra’s allegations about the rapper’s way of life as well as reports of substance use.
The court ultimately ruled in favor of joint legal custody. Roddy was granted physical custody from Tuesdays through Thursdays each week. He was also ordered to pay $8,000 a month in child support, plus cover the costs of Kadence’s private schooling, medical care, therapy for autism, extracurricular activities, and $37,500 in legal fees for Kiser. Additionally, he agreed to provide her with a $1,000 monthly transportation stipend.
Since then, the co-parenting arrangement has reportedly become more cooperative, with both parents emphasizing the importance of stability for their son.
Roddy has touched on the emotional toll of parenting and fame in his music. His recent track Survivor’s Remorse gives listeners a raw glimpse into his struggles, including battles with lean addiction and the pressure of being a father under constant public scrutiny.
The song serves as a subtle but poignant reflection of his personal growth — and the complexities of being a parent to a child with special needs while living in the spotlight.
In that context, his decision to keep certain family moments offline makes sense. For many celebrity parents, social media can feel more like a courtroom than a scrapbook.
April is Autism Awareness Month — a time meant to amplify voices within the neurodiverse community, and to educate the public on the spectrum of autism and how it affects families differently. It is estimated that 1 in 44 children have autism spectrum disorder, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Kadence’s story, and the public fallout around it, highlights the urgent need for more empathy in discussions about special needs parenting — especially when those discussions take place online.
Kids on the autism spectrum see the world in their own way. Family photoshoots, noisy parties, or even routine changes can be overwhelming. Parents, including parents in the public eye, often navigate those situations with care by making hard choices — not necessarily ones that appear perfect on Instagram.
