Ansel Elgort has confirmed the birth of his first child, sharing his reflections on fatherhood in a post on Instagram.

The 31-year-old actor revealed the news on Tuesday alongside a black-and-white photograph of himself holding his newborn son. Speculation had arisen last month when he was photographed travelling on the New York City subway with a baby in a carrier strapped to his chest.

“Fatherhood is exhilarating, exhausting, it’s everything and more,” he wrote in the caption. “The present feels more present and the future brighter. He wakes us up all night and yet I’ve never felt stronger during the day. He goes from crying to laughing, expressing everything he feels and it’s freed me to do the same.”

Elgort explained that he had initially chosen to keep the birth private. “I wanted to keep it sacred, just for us, but now I want to share this story with you as it’s the brightest happiest thing I’ve ever experienced. I hope it brings you happiness too,” he continued, concluding, “So much love, Ansel.”

The actor did not disclose his son’s name or date of birth and has not spoken publicly about his current partner.

Elgort was previously in a long-term relationship with ballerina Violetta Komyshan from 2012 to 2022. In 2020, he denied allegations of sexual assault made by a 17-year-old girl relating to 2014, stating that they “had a brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship” and that her “description of events is simply not what happened”, adding he has “never and would never assault anyone”.

He is currently attached to two forthcoming projects, the road trip film Lucy Boomer and the drama Dinner with Audrey.