Inside Frances Bean Cobain’s Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

In the captivating tapestry of modern-day love stories, few are as intriguing as that of Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk. Born into the legacies of two iconic figures – Kurt Cobain and Tony Hawk – their union seems like a serendipitous blend of creativity, athleticism, and resilience.


Frances Bean Cobain couldn’t help being iconic upon arrival.

In a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar back in early 2008, the only child of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love expressed understanding but also found it unsettling. They mentioned that fan sites dedicated to them feel eerie or creepy.

Apart from being merely 15 years old when it happened, the artist (now 32 and a mother to 2-week-old son Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk with husband Riley Hawk), hadn’t felt that she had truly merited all the online attention at that point in her career.

Frances remarked, “People seem captivated by me, yet I haven’t achieved anything notable as of yet.” She explained, “I’ve become famous merely due to my lineage; people have been curious about me since birth because of who my parents are. If you’re a die-hard Nirvana or Hole fan, I can see why you’d want to meet me, but it’s important to understand that I’m not my parents. People should wait until I’ve made a meaningful impact in my own life before they judge me.

Anticipating the label of nepotism might follow me, she pointed out, “I’m fortunate enough to have a life that will open many doors for me, so I’m being patient. However, people often inquire about my plans due to my parents and the lifestyle I lead.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Despite labeling herself as an “attention seeker,” it was evident that she relished performing. By the age of 15, she had already accumulated nearly two dozen productions in musical theater, surpassing her initial apprehension about singing like her parents. Additionally, she had some experience in modeling.

Approximately thirteen years following her initial photo shoot at just five weeks old, which took place in September 1992 for a feature story in Spin, Frances granted her first-ever interview to Teen Vogue in 2005 (“I don’t prefer a sloppy look,” the fashionista who avoided grunge stated, “I’m quite feminine”) and was photographed for Elle UK at the age of fourteen wearing the pajamas her father wore on his wedding day.

She shared that her father married her mother in Hawaii in 1992, and as a fun touch, she decided to wear those same clothes today. (This version aims to keep the original meaning while making it more conversational and easier to understand.)

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d share that, in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she admitted to having a rebellious spirit, often described as a “badass,” but also craved solitude more frequently. Unlike some of her high-profile celebrity peers, she opted out of the party scene, preferring to keep her image private and avoid constant tabloid attention.

Subsequently, Frances added, “I can count on one hand how many people I trust.”

After a portion of my formative years in Olympia, Washington, residing with my paternal grandmother Wendy O’Connor – the steadfast cornerstone of my life – I found myself returning to live with my mother again. As she put it, “We complement each other perfectly.” Unfortunately, I lost my beloved grandmother Wendy in 2021.

Frances shared, “My viewpoint on true drama has been quite distinct. I don’t gravitate towards fantastical scenarios; instead, I lean more towards pessimism. It’s rather dismal for me.

The true theatrics started way before August 18, 1992, her birth date, as her parents were more than just popular alt-rock figures; they were constantly under the spotlight, with endless conjecture surrounding their relationship and the potential magnitude of the crash when it all ended.

One week prior to her birth, an article by Vanity Fair emerged, which many deemed a damaging portrayal of Kurt and Courtney, casting doubt on their suitability as parents.

In conversation with a magazine, anticipating mother Courtney shared, “Kurt is the ideal candidate for parenthood. We’re financially stable, so we can afford help like a nanny. I’m not particularly drawn to the intense aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, but given that it wasn’t the best time to conceive, that aspect intrigued me.

Afterwards, the pair had a photo session with magazine ‘Spin’, posing for a family picture in September. The image showed a drowsy-looking Kurt cradling Frances while both were in bed. At one instance, he wrote “family values” on Courtney’s bare abdomen using a pen.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Courtney expressed concern to Spin that Frances might face being labeled or negatively stereotyped due to the media frenzy surrounding her, as she matures.

Apart from that remark, the creator of the song “Pretty on the Inside” noted, “She was assured of a flawless upbringing, 100%. As parents, we were determined to provide what we lacked – loyalty, empathy, and support. We aimed to offer her a warm home and indulge her beyond measure.

Born into a family that was far from functional, Courtney expressed a desire for stability in her daughter’s life. Though she had been married previously (her marriage to James Moreland in 1989 was annulled), she firmly believed that marriage should be a lifelong commitment and aspired to have children with the same partner and remain with them permanently.

However, Kurt’s behavior grew more self-destructive, and Nirvana performed for what would be their last concert on March 1, 1994, in Munich. Just two days later, the 27-year-old was admitted to a hospital in Rome following an overdose of Rohypnol and alcohol.

For a short while, he checked into a rehabilitation center, but tragically, Kurt’s lifeless body was discovered at his residence in Seattle on April 8, 1994, three days following his suicide.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Frances had not seen her father since April 1st, and he passed away when she was just 20 months old. It wasn’t until she turned 5 years old that she learned about his death, as she was unaware of the circumstances until then. In an interview in 2019, Frances mentioned that Courtney sent her to therapy for a year prior to disclosing this information, so she could be prepared and more receptive to the conversation about it.

As a devoted admirer, I found myself yearning for more insights into Kurt’s brief yet extraordinary existence. With limited personal recollections of my own, I immersed myself in his life story, piecing together my understanding from old home movies, captivating interviews, and the powerful music he left as his enduring legacy.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Frances, who was once a summer intern there and is now an executive producer, stated that Kurt Cobain ultimately had to relinquish his entire identity for his art, as society expected it of him. She believes this was a significant factor in why he felt so overwhelmed and believed that everyone would be better off if he weren’t around anymore.

Having a dad, though, she added, “would have been an incredible experience.”

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Back in 2010, when she was just 17 years old, the graduate from Bard College had already established herself as a seasoned artist. At that time, she held a solo exhibition of her sketches titled “Scumf–k” at a gallery in Los Angeles.

In a conversation with Interview, Frances (known as “Fiddle Tim” at the time), shared that the majority of her artwork is designed to bring about a sense of humor. She expressed that she considered each work humorous, but was surprised to learn that not everyone else found them amusing too.

Five years after the release of the documentary, she shared with RS, “Interestingly, at the age of 22, it was the first time a fire ignited beneath me – not due to the documentary itself, but rather on a personal level. I’ve developed this drive and aspiration that I didn’t possess before.

The most challenging aspect of engaging in creative activities is simply starting and taking action, she noted. “After I rise from bed and step into my art studio, I begin to paint. I am immersed, and I am actively creating.

During this time, Frances tied the knot with Isaiah Jones Silva in the year 2014. This was done secretly as she exchanged vows with her five-year partner without informing her mother Courtney about the plan. However, their marriage didn’t last long; in March 2016, Frances filed for divorce. Two years after that, they reached a settlement where Isaiah retained ownership of the 1959 Martin D-18E guitar that Kurt Cobain used during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged session in November 1993.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Frances continued to explore, with film photography joining her collection of interests and an album of original songs released in 2018. However, she hesitated to label herself as a musician.

She clarified during a conversation on the RuPaul and Michelle Visage What’s the Tee podcast in 2019 that there’s been a somewhat negative connotation surrounding musicianship within her family, mainly due to past experiences not having had ideal conclusions.

She went on to explain, “What drives and motivates me is that my artistic expression doesn’t resemble or align with my parents’ artistry. When I sing, I create a unique niche for myself.” (For the record, Frances has stated that she isn’t particularly fond of Nirvana.)

She was particularly aware that, many times, children of celebrities didn’t always achieve great success when they attempted to follow in their parents’ careers.

Frances remarked, “I find it challenging to immerse myself in that realm since it’s excessively snobbish and unpleasant. It’s teeming with the most abrasive individuals I’ve encountered. However, when you filter out certain characters and those who exploit their origins to bolster their own falsehoods, you can discover truly genuine people.

Among her notable acquaintances within the celebrity circle are Billie Lourd, daughter of the late actress Carrie Fisher, and Sean Lennon, a musician who tragically lost his father, John Lennon, at the tender age of five.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

However, Frances discovered that Riley Hawk, the elder son of skateboarding icon Tony Hawk, had an exceptional charm about him.

She took a year-long break from social media, writing upon her return in February 2022 that she found the hiatus to be “exceptionally good for my mental, emotional & spiritual health.” And in that post she confirmed with a few sweet photos that she was in a relationship with the athlete.

On October 7, 2023, they got married in San Diego County with Michael Stipe, R.E.M.’s lead singer and the bride’s godfather, officiating the ceremony. A few months later, it was the groom’s father who shared the first photo on his son’s 31st birthday.

Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Private World With Husband Riley Hawk

Tony expressed gratitude that his friend found true love, developed a balanced, disciplined lifestyle as an adult, and serves as a positive role model for his younger siblings. At his wedding, we had a wonderful time and we adore you, Riley! Since he’s no longer active on Instagram, I thought it would be nice to share this message with him, Frances. (Now that Riley is back in the Instagram world, please let him know.)

Upon the birth of his grandson Ronin, Tony couldn’t help but show off his grandfather wit, remarking playfully on Frances’ post, “I have my favorite grandchild already!

On September 29th, Tony shared a picture on his Instagram Story, where he was gazing affectionately at the newborn baby who was resting on his legs.

Frances had kept her pregnancy private, so the palpable emotion from the tribute she posted to her father on April 5, the 30th anniversary of his death, is all the more intense in hindsight.

Over the past 30 years, my thoughts about loss have been constantly evolving, she wrote alongside a collection of photos, some of which were from the last time she and Kurt were together. “The most significant insight I’ve gained through grieving for nearly as long as I’ve been aware, is that it serves a purpose. The interconnectedness of life and death, pain and joy, darkness and light, must coexist to give our lives any significance. It is the transient aspect of human existence that drives us into the core of our most genuine lives.

She mentioned, “In fact, there’s nothing more powerful to push us towards mindful love than realizing that everything eventually comes to an end.

In a similar vein, Frances seemed to echo the thoughtful perspective of the 15-year-old who told Harper’s Bazaar that a glass isn’t about being half full or half empty; rather, she pointed out, “It’s more like a glass simply exists.

However, the teen, openly admitting they were quite frightened about maturing due to the current turmoil in their life, was fervently wishing for a positive outcome as they pondered over the uncertainties of the future.

Frances expressed, “I aim to experience deep and profound happiness. I yearn for a life that is tranquil and not overly busy. A serene existence. And I wish the same bliss for those in my company too.

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2024-10-01 02:22