TikTok Star Talks Family Scandal: Alix Earle On Dad’s Very Public Affair With The Infamous Ashley Dupré

Social media personality Alix Earle was recently featured on the fourth season premiere of the advice and comedy podcast, Call Her Daddy, where she candidly discussed her family matters with host Alexandra Cooper.

Alix's father, Thomas "TJ" Earle, a prosperous construction business owner, was once married to Alisa Earle before their divorce. However, during this marriage, he became entangled with Ashley Alexandra Dupré, a former call girl infamous for her involvement in the 2008 prostitution scandal with former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.

“My dad had an affair with someone who was well-known for her job having sexual relations with high-class people and one of them was even the governor of New York,” Alix explained.

What heightened the controversy was that Thomas "TJ" Earle was still married to his ex-wife at the time of his involvement with Dupré, who was also infamous for her profession then. Subsequently, he proceeded to divorce his former spouse and, according to Daily Mail reports, proposed to Ashley Dupré in 2012.

Although the bad blood within the family has now worn thin, Alix Earle revealed that it wasn't always this way. During the podcast episode, Alex Cooper asked Earle to revisit a pivotal moment from her second-grade days when her life took an unexpected turn.

"I vividly recall that day," the 22-year-old shared on the podcast. "Paparazzi showed up at my house, and my mom hurriedly took my sister and me to our cousins' place." Alix vividly recalled the day when paparazzi descended upon her home, scavenging for photos of her father's family. She explained, "My dad had an affair with someone well-known for her profession, involving high-profile individuals, including the Governor of New York."

Ashley Alexandra Dupré gained notoriety for her involvement in a scandal with the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, back in 2008, which thrust her into the public eye. In a podcast episode released on September 20, 2023, Alix Earle shared her thoughts on Ashley Dupré, saying:

"She was already well-known, and my dad's affair became a very public matter."

A year later, Alix Earle's parents revealed they would be living separately. However, Alix remained unaware of the reason behind their separation until the fourth grade. It was during a Google search about her family using her iPad that she discovered the media coverage of the scandal, exclaiming:

"The past two years of my life had been a complete facade."

Alix also revealed that those times when her dad would take her out for ice cream were actually attempts to escape the paparazzi who had gathered outside their family home.

Since the ordeal, the blended family has managed to come together harmoniously. Earlier this year, father Thomas "TJ" Earle, daughter Alix Earle, and stepmother Ashley Alexandra Dupré were seen celebrating Alix Earle's graduation from the University of Miami.

Alix Earle, a 22-year-old recent graduate from the University of Miami in 2023, swiftly rose to TikTok stardom as one of its fastest-growing creators.

Reflecting on the family drama that shaped her upbringing, Earle noted that it was a widely recognized gossip in her local community, saying:

"People in my town pretty much knew who she was and what had happened."

When recounting awkward moments at school, Earle admitted, "It's embarrassing, but I'm stubborn," and thus projected an image of resilience during the media storm.

Over the past year, Alix Earle has come to a realization:

"I've built a wall around myself and struggle to fully open up because I fear getting hurt."
In addition to her personal insights, she acknowledges that her "parents are just human beings."

The influencer candidly reveals that despite her social media portrayal of a harmonious "blended family" – like in TikTok dance videos – things aren't always perfect, stating: 

"You don't even know the half of it."

Listen to the complete episode on Spotify.