Gypsy Rose Blanchard slams ‘relentless cruelty’ towards Ken Urker after partner’s death

Ken Urker, Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s partner and father of her child, died on his birthday (Picture: Facebook) Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out following the death of her partner, Ken Urker, calling him her ‘soulmate’ and hitting out at those who ‘cyberbullied’ him.

The 34-year-old was found dead in bed at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, yesterday, which was his birthday.

Blanchard, 35, grew worried when he didn’t respond to a happy birthday message.

She later told People that she is in ‘disbelief’, suspecting his cause of death to be an overdose.

‘I don’t know if it was intentional or not,’ she said, admitting Urker was ‘not in a good state of mind lately’.

Taking to Instagram this evening with a lengthy tribute, she began: ‘Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved. He will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.’

She continued: ‘Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying across social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit.

‘The cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure. I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him, and I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment.’

Blanchard added: ‘Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora. She is a beautiful reflection of his enduring spirit, and through her, a part of him will always remain with us.’

She vowed to ‘make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him’.

Blanchard concluded: ‘He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten’.

She also shared photos of Urker on her feed, writing in the caption: ‘You will always be my greatest love story. You will be remembered and loved forever. ❤️’

News of Urker’s death was broken by TMZ, which published a statement from the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office.

It read: ‘We responded to a residence in Raceland today after receiving a call at 6.15pm. Kenan Urker, 34, was found dead upon arrival. At this time, we are continuing the death investigation.’

Urker proposed to Blanchard in October 2018, when she was imprisoned for the murder of her mother, Clauddine ‘Dee Dee’ Blanchard.

They later called off their engagement and were separated for several years, during which time the Life After Lock-Up figure married Ryan Anderson.

Blanchard announced her split from Anderson in December 2023, four months after her release from jail.

In August 2019, she and Urker reunited, and they welcomed daughter Aurora in December 2024.

Blanchard became known to the public when she was handed a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for conspiring with her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mum.

The homicide case of June 2015 was widely publicised, with the media revealing that Dee Dee, 48, subjected her daughter to years of physical, psychological, and medical abuse in aid of financial gain and social advantages.

Such abuse included isolating her from the outside world, lying about her age to prevent her from gaining independence, and faking and inducing illnesses.

Blanchard was forced to use a wheelchair, despite having no mobility issues and being able to walk normally, use a feeding tube, and shave her head. Dee Dee claimed she had leukaemia and muscular dystrophy.

Previously called Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP), but now factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), the term describes a situation in which a caregiver creates the appearance of health problems in another person.

Blanchard and Godejohn (whom she met on a Christian dating website) were arrested five days after Dee Dee’s murder at her home in Springfield, Missouri, having fled to Wisconsin and posted messages online that sparked attention.

Both confessed, and Godejohn, who fatally stabbed Dee Dee, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Blanchard was released on parole, and she has become a public figure due to her interviews, TV appearances, and social media posts.

Kurt Geiger’s new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London’s chaotic weather

I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier

I tried L’Oréal Paris’s new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use

This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes

From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027

As well as her reality series on Lifetime, documenting her freedom, she has told her story in a memoir titled My Time to Stand.

Arrow MORE: Ray J, 45, rushed to hospital during livestream after claiming he had ‘months to live’

Arrow MORE: Halle Berry’s ex Olivier Martinez accuses her of ‘choking’ their son Maceo, 12

Arrow MORE: Chad Lowe’s daughter Fiona’s cause of death at age 13 revealed

Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.

Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.