Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s Boyfriend Ken Urker Ended Their Relationship After Listening to Dr. Phil—But Fate Brought Them Back Together:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(761x255:763x257):format(webp)/Gypsy-Rose-Blanchard-Ken-Urker-030825-d7d4ddf0d5e0474dbb468e8336eb527b.jpg)
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker’s relationship has had its ups and downs, and Urker now reveals that their temporary split was largely influenced by outside voices—including Dr. Phil’s insights on her past and personal growth.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up season 2, Urker shared his reasons for stepping away from their relationship before their April 2024 reconciliation.
A Relationship Shaped by Outside Influence
Urker, who first connected with Gypsy-Rose while she was in prison for her role in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, initially proposed in October 2018. Though they briefly called off their engagement, they reunited in 2019, only to part ways again for several years.
During that time, Gypsy-Rose married and later separated from Ryan Anderson, announcing their split just four months after her release from prison in December 2023.
Looking back, Urker admits that his decision to break things off was heavily influenced by external opinions.
“I had listened to a podcast from Dr. Phil, and I had a lot of people in my ear telling me that the best thing I could do for her was to give her some time to build a self-identity,” he shared.
Urker explained that Dr. Phil, 74, wasn’t specifically addressing their relationship in the podcast but did mention Gypsy-Rose and her need for personal growth.
“At the time, all those opinions—especially Dr. Phil’s—felt like the right choice to make for both of us,” he continued. “So we went off in separate directions, but fate allowed us to meet back up again.”
Finding Their Way Back to Each Other:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(742x322:744x324):format(webp)/ryan-andersongypsy-rose-103024-tout-4bce57a3eba34e3aa334e8a48b5b12c6.jpg)
After Gypsy-Rose’s split from Anderson, Urker and Blanchard reconnected in April 2024, and their relationship quickly deepened.
“The very first weekend of April, I came to visit her after she had gotten out,” Urker recalled. “We spent that weekend together and had an incredible time.”
Their reunion continued to flourish, with the couple attending a jazz festival a month later. Not long after, they discovered they were expecting a baby.
“Then shortly after that, we realized we were going to have a baby,” Urker said. “So then I moved down here.”
Their daughter, Aurora, was born on December 28, marking a new chapter in their lives together.
A New Beginning
Now living in Missouri with their daughter, Urker has no regrets about rekindling their love.
“It has been amazing to see how she’s blossomed into an incredible person since her release from prison,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud to have her as the mother of our child and as a partner in life.”
Reflecting on their journey, Urker emphasized that, despite everything Gypsy-Rose has been through, his admiration for her has never wavered.
“That was one of the things I loved about her from the beginning,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier to have her at my side in this life.”