Gypsy-Rose Blanchard Admits She Feels ‘Guilty’ for Leaving Husband Ryan for Ken: ‘Weigh on My Conscience’
“Every time that we have talked or texted since the divorce was filed, it’s me trying to apologize for breaking his heart,” Blanchard said
JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is opening up about having a guilty conscience after leaving ex-husband Ryan Anderson for Ken Urker.
On the season 2 premiere of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, the reality star, 33, revealed that she has struggled to find peace with Anderson after their separation in March 2024. She confirmed that she reconnected with Urker and filed for divorce the following month.
“Every time that we have talked or texted since the divorce was filed, it’s me trying to apologize for breaking his heart,” she told cameras. “And as much as I’m trying to live my life and be happy, of course, from time to time, that guilt is going to weigh on my conscience.”
JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY; PHILLIP FARAONE/GETTY
Urker admitted that he wished Blanchard had “gotten through” the divorce process before the couple found out they were expecting a baby, which they announced in July 2024. He added, “It’s not a good look for me. It’s not a good look for her. It’s not a good look.”
“But, it happened, and so I’m gonna be a big girl, and I’m gonna put on my big girl pants, and I’m gonna freaking do this,” she replied as Urker teased, “Same answer for me, except boy pants.”
Later in the episode, Blanchard delivered the news to Anderson that her divorce being finalized would be coming soon.
“I reached out to my attorney a few days ago, and she texted me back, and she said, ‘I’ll have the paperwork for you to sign this week,” she shared. “I said, ‘Meaning the divorce will be final soon.’ She said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’ ”
GYPSY-ROSE BLANCHARD/INSTAGRAM
Blanchard hoped that the end of their marriage would bring closure to Anderson.
“I think Ryan has a glimmer of hope that he feels like, okay, it’s not finalized yet, so maybe we might get back together or something,” she explained to the cameras. “So I’m hoping that once the divorce is final, that is what needs to sink in.”
“And that’s what I have been trying to convey ever since I filed, I’m like ‘I care about you,’ ” she continued. “’I wish you the best. I wish you would move on and find happiness. That’s what I want for you.’ He has not conveyed that to me.”
With the divorce nearly complete, Blanchard appeared ready for her and Anderson to move on with their lives, explaining, “It’s hard whenever you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future, and it’s kind of like you just want to close that chapter and move on, and I feel like in me moving on and with the divorce, finalizing it will also give him that closure he needs too.”
Last month, Blachard shared an update on where she stands with Anderson after taking a paternity test before welcoming her baby daughter and confirming that Urker was the father to Aurora, whom she welcomed in December.
“We’re still dealing with some things wrapped around the paternity, believe it or not, getting the paperwork finalized for that,” Blanchard previously told PEOPLE.
“So it’s like I took the test before she was born, and I posted that Instagram that shut all the rumors of who the father was down, so it was clear, but then you have the court proceeding part of it, you have to follow up on,” she added.
“And so that is currently what we are dealing with. So Ryan is not out of the picture yet,” she continued.
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Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up airs at 9 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
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Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and boyfriend split after listening to Dr. Phil podcast
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s breakup with boyfriend Ken Urker came as the result of “outside opinion and influence”. Urker says that the couple’s temporary split, which blindsided Gypsy-Rose, was influenced by a Dr Phil podcast.
Gypsy-Rose first met Ken while she was still in prison for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. In October 2018, he proposed but the pair ended their engagement before reuniting one year later.
Sharing the trial and tribulations of their relationship ahead of the season two release of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, Ken explained what he was thinking when the couple broke up. After their initial breakup and reunion, Urker and Gypsy-Rose later split for multiple years, during which Gypsy-Rose married and broke up with Ryan Anderson.
Speaking to People, Ken explained their decision to break up was influenced by other people – including TV host Dr. Phil.
He said: “Well, I think one of the biggest things was outside opinion and influence.
“I had listened to a podcast from Dr. Phil, and I had a lot of people in my ear just telling me that the best thing I can do for her is to give her some time to build a self-identity that she’s never been able to build before, and even while she’s in prison.”
Urker added that, at the time, he believed those voices – “especially Dr. Phil’s” – and felt it was the right thing to do to listen to them.
“So we went off in separate directions, but fate allowed us to meet back up again,” he added.
The podcast episode, which discussed Gypsy-Rose and mentioned Urker by name, had more of an impact than the other opinions, he added.
Urker went on to say the 74-year-old TV presenter “was one of the biggest outside, I guess, opinions that shaped the way of our relationship at the time.”
Urker and Gypsy-Rose reconnected after her relationship with Anderson ended, and the pair have one daughter, Aurora, who was born on December 28.
Ken Urker said the pair split due to ‘outside influences’
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard Shares Update on Ryan Anderson Divorce
Nearly a year after Gypsy Rose Blanchard and ex Ryan Anderson divorced, the Life After Lock Up star—who just welcomed her first baby with Ken Urker—shared where they stand in an exclusive interview.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is ready to put the past behind her.
Nearly a year after she filed for divorce from ex Ryan Anderson, the Life After Lock Up star—who just welcomed her first baby, daughter Aurora, with partner Ken Urker in December—reflected on where she stands with her ex-husband.
“Believe it or not, we are just finishing up some of the legal proceedings for the paternity aspect of that divorce,” Gypsy exclusively told E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi. “Everything’s going through our lawyers because we’re still trying to navigate that sort of legal route of, ‘how do we fully close this chapter of our life?’”
And while Gypsy shared that the former couple had talked directly “recently,” they have since been exclusively communicating via their legal teams.
“Now that that is over and done with, we won’t have any communication,” Gypsy, who confirmed her and Ryan’s divorce was finalized in December, continued. “We’re just kind of—he’s healing. I wish him the best.”
As for Gypsy, she’s busy with new priorities, adding of her and Ken, “We have a new child to raise. That’s where our life is right now.”
Indeed, Gypsy and Ken will detail their life as new parents in even more detail in the upcoming season of Life After Lock Up, which premieres March 10 at 9 p.m. on Lifetime.
But as Gypsy embraces motherhood for the first time, she is still getting used to life outside of prison.
“I’m still learning a lot of my firsts,” the 33-year-old admitted, “I’m still getting my feet on the ground.”
Luckily, raising a child has not been a tough first for Gypsy or Ken.
“Aurora’s been a really easy baby,” Ken gushed to E! “She only cries when she’s hungry. She sleeps most of the time. When she’s awake, she’s just generally quiet. She’s been a blessing so far.”
Gypsy similarly effused over parenthood, adding, “We’re kind of figuring all this out day by day as she grows more and more.”
Keep reading for more of Gypsy and Ken’s life together…
“The One”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard told E! News she knew Ken Urker was the one “probably the day I met him back in 2017.”
At the time she was serving a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the 2015 killing of her mom Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
Origin Story
The couple, who got engaged in 2018, even managed to create a festive atmosphere while Gypsy was incarcerated.
What She Said
They split up in 2019 but, as Gypsy noted, fate would come back to find them…
On the Outside
While Gypsy went on to tie the knot with teacher Ryan Anderson in 2022, she filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage. She and Ken reunited in the spring of 2024.
“We are together and in a wonderful place in our relationship,” she told TMZ on April 30. “We know it is going to be a long road ahead but are excited for the future.”
Sunnier Days Ahead
Cloudy skies couldn’t put a damper on the rekindled pair’s mood.
Cozying Up to Ken
Gypsy likes it when this Ken is all up in his feelings.
He Makes Her Laugh
Whatever he said had Gypsy beaming.
Cheese
Smiling for the camera.
Scenes From a Romance
Gypsy Rose shared a collage of some of her and Ken’s most adorable moments a few weeks before revealing she’s pregnant with their first child together.
She noted that their baby is due in January 2025.
It’s a Girl
The two celebrate at their sex reveal party for their baby in August 2024.
Date Night
Before they become a family of three, Gypsy and Ken dined at a table for two during their September 2024 date night.
Romantic Getaway
The parents-to-be take a trip to California, including Marina Del Rey, that October.
Making Memories
And while Gypsy noted on Instagram the view of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was “incredible,” she added, “the company made it unforgettable.”
Selfie Time
The duo sport their shades in this sunny snap.
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