Ansel Elgort has returned to public view in a completely new role. The Baby Driver and West Side Story actor, who stepped away from the spotlight several years ago, was recently photographed in New York City as a new father. These candid images show a 31-year-old Elgort navigating fatherhood, a stark contrast to his former life as a rising Hollywood star.
The photographs, taken in Manhattan on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, show Elgort riding the subway and strolling through the city. He was seen cradling his newborn, who was bundled in a cozy onesie and secured in a papoose carrier. Walking beside him was his partner, whose identity has not been publicly shared. The family was later joined by what appeared to be his partner’s parents during a relaxed walk.
This ordinary family outing marks a significant moment. It is Elgort’s first major public appearance since largely disappearing from Hollywood’s glare, a retreat that followed serious personal allegations and a shift in his career trajectory.
The 2020 Allegations and Elgort’s Response
Elgort’s low profile began in mid-2020 when a social media user accused him of sexual assault. On June 19, 2020, a woman using the name Gabby posted detailed allegations on Twitter. She stated that when she was 17 years old in 2014, Elgort, then 20, sexually assaulted her after they connected on Snapchat. She described being a fan and said the encounter left her “sobbing in pain”. She also said she later suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks.
The accuser wrote, “Finally I’m ready to talk about it and finally healโฆ I just want to heal and I [want] to tell other girls who have been through the same as me, you’re not alone”.
Following her post, other women shared similar stories online, alleging that Elgort sent inappropriate messages to them when they were teenagers. One user claimed he messaged her when she was 15, while another said he contacted her when she was 14.
Elgort responded on Instagram the next day, June 20, 2020. He firmly denied the assault allegation. “I cannot claim to understand Gabby’s feelings but her description of events is simply not what happened,” he wrote. “I have never and would never assault anyone”.
He acknowledged having a “brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship” with the woman but apologized for his behavior afterward. Elgort admitted to ghosting her, calling it “an immature and cruel thing to do”. He expressed shame and said he needed to “work to grow in empathy”. Both the initial accusation and Elgort’s response have since been deleted from their platforms.
Impact on ‘West Side Story’ and Co-Star Reactions
The allegations emerged at a sensitive time for Elgort’s career. He had recently finished filming one of his biggest roles: playing Tony in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. The movie’s release was delayed from December 2020 to December 2021, partly due to the pandemic.
During the film’s press tour, Elgort participated in limited promotional activities but avoided questions about the allegations. The task of addressing the controversy often fell to his female co-stars during interviews.
In a January 2022 Hollywood Reporter cover story, co-stars Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno were asked about the situation. Their responses were cautious. Ariana DeBose stated, “Nobody really knows whatโs going on in anyoneโs headโฆ Only the people who were involved in that situation know what actually went down”.
Rita Moreno emphasized not taking sides, saying, “Itโs not for me to make those judgments”. Rachel Zegler noted that much had changed since filming, saying, “You just hope that the people involved are OK”.
Later, in an April 2022 interview with Elle magazine, Zegler expressed frustration at repeatedly being asked to answer for Elgort’s alleged actions. She called the experience “a real gut punch”. She questioned why she was the one facing these questions “even though the person in question was present” at promotional events.
A Changed Career and Personal Path
After the allegations, Ansel Elgort’s public presence changed dramatically. He cleared his Instagram account and stopped using social media. His once-active public life quieted down significantly.
Professionally, he moved forward with some projects. West Side Story was released in December 2021 and received critical acclaim, though Elgort did not attend the Academy Awards ceremony where the film was nominated. His series Tokyo Vice, where he plays an American journalist in Japan, premiered on HBO Max in April 2022 and continues to air.
However, the pace of his career slowed. The actor who once starred in major franchises like The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent began taking on fewer roles. His last major film release was West Side Story in 2021.
In his personal life, Elgort ended a long-term relationship with dancer Violetta Komyshan in 2022. The pair had been together since high school and had attended many red-carpet events together. Following their split, he was photographed vacationing in Italy with a new partner before this recent appearance with his family.
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Fatherhood and a New Chapter in New York
The recent photos present a transformed Ansel Elgort. He was seen on the streets of New York, not on a red carpet, dressed in a simple blue sweater and leather pants. The images show him engaging in the ordinary, relatable tasks of new parenthood: carrying a baby in a carrier, taking public transit, and enjoying a walk with family.
The sighting has sparked conversation among fans and observers online. Many expressed surprise at the news of his child, while others revisited the past allegations. The photos show a man who appears to have embraced a private, family-focused life away from the movie industry.
Elgort has not made any public statement about becoming a father or about his current family life. The appearance itself serves as a quiet confirmation of a major life change. Whether this marks a permanent step away from acting or simply a new personal priority remains to be seen.
For now, the narrative around Ansel Elgort has shifted from talk of career prospects and past controversies to a simple image of a man navigating fatherhood on a New York City sidewalk.
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