Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 7, 2025 · Entertainment

From Scandal to Stardom: Alix Earle's Dance with Fame and Family Secrets

The 24-year-old is one of the most popular influencers on social media, boasting a dizzying 12 million followers across both Instagram and TikTok

THE TRAGIC FALL OF A FAMILY'S REPUTATION: THE EARLE SAGA

In a shocking turn of events, Alix Earle's life has been turned upside down since her debut on the social media scene just two years ago. The 24-year-old influencer, boasting an astonishing 12 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, was once just a University of Miami sorority girl filming "get ready with me" videos in her bedroom. Now, she's part of the elite group, rubbing shoulders with celebrities at Fashion Week, attending lavish parties worldwide, and even participating in Dancing with the Stars.

However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a dark family secret that has been making waves in the media. The Earle family's scandalous past is about to be revealed, and it might just become Alix's ticket to stardom.

Alix (pictured left with her dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy, right) has given her fans a glimpse behind the curtain of Dancing with the Stars

A PAINFUL REVELATION

When Alix was just an elementary school student, her life took a drastic turn when news broke of her father, Thomas Earle, having an extramarital affair with none other than Ashley Dupre, the infamous former call girl at the center of Eliot Spitzer's sex scandal. The scandal shook their New Jersey hometown and left many in awe of the shocking revelation.

The details of the affair were nothing short of salacious. It was alleged that Thomas Earle met Ashley Dupre at a New Jersey eatery, where he boasted, "I could have had her for free!" Their secret trysts took place in Manhattan, and it's reported that Thomas would often whisk her away from his wife, Alisa.

When Alix and her younger sister Ashtin were in elementary school, news broke that their father, New Jersey construction scion Thomas Earle (left), had an extramarital affair with Ashley Dupre (right)

THE FALLOUT

The scandal followed Alix into high school, leaving her feeling humiliated. She recalled the embarrassment she felt when a teacher discussed the governor's affair in class. "I remember my classmates looking at me and laughing because this was about my family," Alix told Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper.

"I left school bawling my eyes out. I was so embarrassed."

Dupre (pictured) was the former call girl at the center of former New York governor Eliot Spitzer's sex scandal

The ordeal could have made Alix bitter or resentful, but according to a former classmate, she remained "down-to-earth" and "very sweet." However, Dupre seemed to have seen a different side of her when the Earle girls tormented her by filling her shoes with toothpaste and serving her a chocolate-covered garlic clove disguised as a chocolate-covered strawberry.

THE FALLEN STAR

Ashley Dupre's reputation was left in tatters after the 'Luv Guv' scandal. She faced public scrutiny, with her face splashed on the covers of local tabloids. PR maven Kelly Cutrone met Dupre in 2009 and hosted her on her show Kell on Earth. "When I met her, you know, she was very intelligent, really sweet and had really been through it," Cutrone said.

Back then, Alix – who was in second grade – had little knowledge of what had transpired. It wasn't until two years later that she learned of her father's affair

"I just think that she kind of lost her way a little bit."

But despite the controversy surrounding her family's past, Alix has seemingly brushed off the scandal. She often boasts about their "blended family" with the addition of her half-siblings, Izabel, 11, and Penelope, nine, and seven-year-old Thomas James.

A LESSON FROM THE PAST

According to a former classmate, who spoke to the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity, the affair – and Dupre's reputation – was the talk of the town. (Pictured: the Earle family in 2023)

As it turns out, Ashley Dupre's past experience has become a valuable resource for Alix as she navigates the treacherous world of fame. "One time, I was overwhelmed about something of mine and I called my dad," Alix told Elle magazine in 2023.

"He was like, 'You should really talk to Ashley about this. She has dealt with this before, stuff in the media.'"

It's clear that Dupre's advice has been instrumental in helping Alix cope with the pressures of fame. "Life goes on," is what she imparted to her stepdaughter.

If there is anyone to offer Alix advice on how to navigate the pitfalls of fame, it's Dupre

And indeed, it does for Alix. With her Dancing with the Stars debut just around the corner, she'll be donning a sequined number and strutting her stuff on live television. Will she be able to keep up the charade, or will the spotlight shine too brightly on her family's scandalous past?

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

The world will soon find out as Alix takes center stage in Dancing with the Stars. With Ashley Dupre's guidance and a seemingly untarnished reputation, Alix is ready to take on the limelight.

The Earles (pictured) are a blended family with the addition of Dupre's three children, Alix's half-siblings

As Kelly Cutrone so aptly put it, "Fear of people knowing about you or your life or your family's life, if that's what inhibits you, you'll never get to where you want to go."

And for Alix Earle, it seems like she's more than ready to take on the world.

Pictured: Izabel Earle, Ashtin Earle, Alix Earle and Penelope Earle