Ken Urker Ended Relationship with Gypsy-Rose Blanchard After Dr. Phil’s Advice—But Fate Brought Them Back Together
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and her boyfriend Ken Urker’s brief separation was heavily influenced by external opinions—most notably, insights from Dr. Phil, Urker revealed in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.
As they prepare for the release of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up season 2, the couple opened up about their journey, detailing the challenges they faced. Urker shared that his decision to part ways with Gypsy-Rose stemmed from external voices urging him to give her time to develop a sense of self outside of a relationship.
Urker first connected with Gypsy-Rose while she was serving time for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. He proposed to her in October 2018, but the couple later called off their engagement before reuniting in August 2019. After another separation, Gypsy-Rose married Ryan Anderson, from whom she later announced her split just four months after her release from prison in December 2023.
Reflecting on their temporary breakup, Urker admitted that he was deeply influenced by Dr. Phil’s perspective. “One of the biggest factors in my decision was outside opinion and influence,” he explained. “I listened to a podcast from Dr. Phil and had many people telling me that the best thing I could do for Gypsy-Rose was to let her find her own identity, something she never had the chance to do before.”
Urker emphasized that Dr. Phil’s analysis, though not specifically focused on their relationship, played a significant role in his choice. “His was one of the biggest outside opinions that shaped my decision at the time,” he noted.
However, after Gypsy-Rose’s marriage to Anderson ended, fate brought Urker and her back together. They rekindled their romance in April 2024, and soon after, Gypsy-Rose discovered she was pregnant with their daughter, Aurora, who was born on December 28.
Urker recalled the turning point in their reunion. “The first weekend of April [2024] was when I visited her after her release. We spent an amazing weekend together, and then a month later, we met again at a jazz festival. Shortly after that, we found out we were expecting a baby, and I moved to Missouri to be with her.”
Since then, Urker’s concerns about Gypsy-Rose needing time for self-discovery have faded. He now admires how she has grown. “She has blossomed into an incredible person,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud to have her as the mother of our child and as my partner in life.”
The couple’s journey will be documented in Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up season 2, premiering Monday, March 10, at 9 p.m. ET on Lifetime.