Gary Owen didn’t hold back when he recently spoke about his private family matters! In a conversation with Shannon Sharpe, the comedian revealed that his relationship with his adult children has been strained for three years.
He admits things took a turn for the worse during his divorce from his wife of almost 20 years. Kenyan Duke. She previously claimed she asked for an end to the marriage after Gary was unfaithful to her, which he has since admitted.
When they met in the early 2000s, Kenya was already mother to a son named Emilio, whom Owen considers his eldest. During their relationship, Gary and Kenya added two more children to their family, Austin And kennedy. All three are now adults.
Gary Owen said THIS in “Club Shay Shay”
The conversation about Gary’s adult children began after Owen confirmed that he had recently given birth to twins with a woman named Briana Johnson.
After joking about one of his twins being black and the other being white, he talked about his adult children. He admitted he didn’t think he would have more children and dismissed the idea of doing it “right this time”.
“I don’t think I did it wrong the first time. I was very conscious of how I spoke to them and how we disciplined them. I never put them down…I was the fun dad,” Owen said. “It’s two things: I didn’t imagine becoming a father, but I think that I don’t have a relationship with my children, you know… the twins are… at the stage where they idolize their father.”
Owen said his adult children do not have a relationship with his twins and have not met. He called the years-long estrangement of Emilio, Austin and Kennedy “a nightmare.”
“It’s like they’re my greatest achievement and my greatest failure at the same time. But to see how it’s just crashed and burned since the divorce…”
He partly blamed the divorce for the strain on their relationship. But ultimately Gary Owen had to be blamed for the fact that his bond with them wasn’t strong enough to survive everything. He said he didn’t know “where it got so bad.”
Owen also revealed that he recently traveled to Kenya during a flight together. When they spoke, he claimed he asked her to try to smooth things over.
Swipe down to see Gary’s comments about his twins and estranged relationship with his adult children.
Kenya Duke reacts to her ex-husband’s new interview
For comparison, this isn’t the first time in years that Gary has spoken openly about not seeing or speaking to his adult children. In November 2023, he admitted the same fact on his podcast “Get Some”. He had the same insightful energy then as he did when he spoke to Shannon Sharpe.
“…As many people know, I have not seen or spoken to my children for almost three years since the divorce. And I understand that I think they just heal at their own pace, and I try to reach out to them and see them, but it just hasn’t worked out, it hasn’t worked out yet.”
Gary also shared how, despite their estrangement, he tried to stay connected with them by showing up.
Check out everything Owen said below.
After this video, Kenya Duke clapped again online. According to Atlanta Black Star, she accused her ex-husband of telling “half the story out of compassion.” She suggested that if he “wanted healing,” he could have contacted a family therapist, sent his video to the children, or called or texted them.
Additionally, she accused him of not having “empathy for.” [their kids’] feelings” and do “some bad things.”
“I remind her of your birthday and Father’s Day. I encourage you to give you a second chance,” Kenya reportedly said. “I’m sharing information about this with you because I hope you would do the same if the tables were turned.”
In previous posts since their divorce, Duke has accused Gary of paying prostitutes for sex, having an affair and vacationing with a nurse.
However, her energy seemed more reserved in her reaction to Owen’s interview. She said she “wishes [him] Well,” while accusing him of selling “false narratives for sympathy and attention.”
“@garyowencomedy it’s been 3 years. I’m always nice and cool to you. I intentionally never make it uncomfortable. I never disturb you. I’ve given you my suggestions about the situation, but you don’t respect her boundaries. That’s why you discussed this again on social media. I don’t know what else I can do to help you. I wish you all the best always,” Duke wrote in her caption.
Check out her full post below.
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