Tyler Baltierra and his wife Catelynn Lowell were once the cover kids for choosing adoption, but in the last few years, the Teen Mom stars have been very outspoken against not only the way the adoption of their own bio daughter Carly went down, but of the adoption industry in general— often resulting in him and Cate being heavily criticized for changing their opinion on the topic.
During a new interview for The Southern Tea Podcast, Tyler discussed the harsh criticism he and Catelynn have received for speaking out against adoption. He also talked about why he feels MTV and those behind ‘Teen Mom’ exploited him and Cate during a very vulnerable period of their lives.
“They did exploit kids. That’s what happened,” he told host Lindsie Chrisley. “How else do you explain following 16-year-old kids after making this crazy decision and then following the aftermath of that decision? It also was a huge blessing to our lives and gave us opportunities but there’s a cost to it.”
As fans know, Tyler and Catelynn first appeared on 16 and Pregnant in 2009 in an episode that centered around Carly’s birth and Cate and Ty’s decision to place Carly with Brandon and Teresa Davis after her birth. In 2024, Catelynn revealed that Brandon and Teresa had cut her and Tyler off and closed Carly’s adoption. Since then, he and Cate have slammed the concept of adoption.
“[My feelings about adoption] have changed so much,” Tyler said. “Being that young you are just kind of trusting all of the adults around you and back then we didn’t do any research about anything. We just trusted what this agency was telling us. I think my opinion on adoption completely changed. Only because you get older and you get wiser. You kind of start understanding the industry in this country and how it works.
“…commodifying children or any life is just not good…. I can’t stand there and say it’s this amazing thing that I thought it was when we were kids,” he added.
Speaking out against adoption (both Carly’s and in general) has garnered him and Catelynn a lot of hate, something Tyler talked about on the podcast.
“I feel like a lot of cast members get a lot of grace for certain stuff but when it comes to us a lot of people are like, ‘Well you did it– get over it. You signed your papers. You gave her away,'” Tyler said. “We were children. We were literally kids making this decision. I think it’s
unfair to just tell someone to get over it.
“How do you ever get over it? How do you ever stop grieving a child that’s still living?”
Tyler slammed fans who hate on him and Catelynn.
“I did not sign up to be ridiculed, judged, or criticized with such visceral cruelty,” he said. “That is not what I signed up for. I signed up to be transparent with my life. I think people need to humanize more reality TV stars.”
Tyler reminded fans that what the saw on the show isn’t always exactly how things went down in real life.
“Reality TV stars get the most critique and the most bulls**t and the most s**t talked about them,” he said. “Your story is not in fact up to you. It’s up to whoever is in the editing room. You’re watching my true story but you’re watching it through their lens.”
He stated that one of the worst examples of hate he and Catelynn got because of the show was in 2016 and 2017, when Catelynn checked into an inpatient treatment facility on two different occasions to deal with her postpartum depression and mental health issues.
“The backlash Cate had to have; she had postpartum and went to treatment and people were just so cruel and mean about it,” Tyler said. “They ripped her apart… [the hate] never affected me in a negative way with my mental health like it did Cate, because I tried to look at it like ‘I’m gonna use this as a self-reflection tool to figure out what I’m gonna work on.’ Growing up on TV, it creates a natural inevitable accountability.”
Tyler stated that Catelynn felt that the amount she was making on ‘Teen Mom’ was not worth the ridicule she received from fans during that time.
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“When she was in the middle of treatment, she was like, one, ‘I didn’t sign up for this’ and, two, this wasn’t worth it. I would never trade my mental health for this amount of money.’ You can’t put a price on it because once it hits you, it hits you and it’s over with.
He added that he felt those involved in the show should have done more.
“If you’re going to be on a reality TV show or even have a production network, you should have a moral responsibility to help these people [on your show],” he said.
Click here to listen to Tyler’s full interview with The Southern Tea Podcast.
46 Responses
Are these two dumbasses still talking?
I don’t believe in adoption for smart, together children who want to keep their baby. I have always felt very strongly about that. We need a system, where teens who are clearly going to be capable parents, are given the opportunity to raise their children in a group home setting. I was actually surprised that Kaitlyn and Tyler did not choose to try to move her to a group home. I even said when I watched this show, if my husband wasn’t still here (I put him out in 2014), I would have invited her to stay in my home to get on her feet. But my children were still young and my husband would never have allowed it. Foster care should exist for the mother and the baby so the mom can get help and get on her feet. And closed adoptions are just bull. They shouldn’t exist anymore. Children have a right to know who they are.
I would be more inclined to believe him had he and Cate left the show after her mental health crisis. You can’t say that it’s not worth the money and then…go back for the money.
“How do you get over your child that’s still alive?” You don’t Tyler. But you also don’t just sit in the same place you whole lives.
What does Tyler think should happen to unwanted babies?
He doesn’t care, he only cares about himself and the parents. He’s such a selfish twat.
Look at the newest post here! Idiot.
Just when you think they’ve finally shut up, here they come again.
Guess he needed some attention, and doesnt care if he gets that at the expense of the kid he supposedly cares so much about. Or a distraction from another sexcapade?
I think Carly has wonderful parents and she does NOT have to listen to public stories of their sex life. Grow up the ef tyler, it long past time. Let her live in peace, she can find you anytime she wants.
I am in a bit of a mood.
Every adult in your life tried to stop you from giving your baby up for adoption. Her mother didn’t even sign the papers so you had to hand your baby over on a parking place. It was you and Cate who went through with it.
So, I want to start by saying I am in NO way defending Cait and Tyler- I think there have been many HUGE mistakes, bad and inappropriate behavior, boundaries crossed on THEIR end… And within the last year or two, they’ve been completely out of line- especially using Carly for clicks and likes/money. But I think some of you are being rather harsh. They were literal children- 16 year old kids that made a HUGE decision and sacrifice. You must remember this… Yes, they made a grown up decision to have sex- I’m sure the majority of you all did too- let’s be honest. Let’s not act like the majority of you were thinking “oh my god this may end with me pregnant”. I was resourceful and went to planned parenthood and got on birth control and used protection before that, but I think a lot of it for me and many, was luck. The majority of us did not become teen parents, due to luck. Now, had they been grown adults with knowledge of sex, and full access and of age to procure resources to prevent pregnancy- sure. They should have known.
As far as the adoption goes, regardless if Cait made the decision “to go with what Tyler wanted” or not, that was a TOUGH position to be in and perhaps had any of us been in the situation, we would have done the same. We just don’t know. I cannot imagine giving up my child at any age but as a teen where things are just chaotic and frequently changing, where other kids are judgmental and talking behind your back, along with the fact that they were of the age where social media was a thing… man, I just- I feel for them on that level. I cannot imagine being a child, giving up a child. I do think that it was pretty clear that there were adults involved that clearly said whatever they had to say, to get a baby/get Brandon and Teresa the baby and Brandon and Teresa played the role of sweet and open adoptive parents that would leave the door open for them to somewhat be in Carly’s life. I remember watching the episode originally when it came out and thinking Brandon and Teresa seemed like they’d be loving and good parents that obviously could provide a better life for Carly, but I also thought they came off a little fake and I could totally see them becoming controlling and even jealous enough to likely try to keep Carly away from Tyler and Cait eventually. That was my observation way back when… Also, this originally WAS an OPEN adoption… There weren’t any stipulations like “If you engage in such and such behavior, you cannot visit/be in contact with Carly” and with their very obvious religious beliefs in a religion that promotes love, forgiveness, non-judgmental behavior, you’d think that by providing them with the ultimate gift of a child, and the fact that Carly honestly isn’t around Tyler and Cait even a fraction of a percent (or enough to be “influenced” by)- that they would foster a relationship between Carly and her birth parents. At LEAST a yearly visitation. And I’m sorry but weed isn’t a drug that is dangerous… it’s just not. Had they been on crack or meth or something, even someone that drank daily- okay, totally different. But… that isn’t what they did. Yeah, they are basically glorified teen parents that made money for little to no effort at all. Let’s not act like any of us wouldn’t have done the same. Yes, Tyler did only fans, Yes, they smoke weed. Big deal.
It sucks for everyone involved- especially Carly. Whether she sides more with Brandon and Teresa, or, Cait and Tyler. Only time will tell. My guess is she falls in the middle- she probably thinks it’s crap that her birth parents are vilified for the way they live, but she could be embarrassed by their choices and upset they are exploiting her for all kinds of reasons. She might love her adoptive parents to death and doesn’t want to hurt them (they’ve provided her with love and stability and have really, been the only parents she knows) but she could disagree with how they are acting. Cait and Tyler have not been around enough to even be considered parental figures if we are being honest, and it’s because they aren’t allowed to. However, she probably loves them too and that is perfectly fine! It’s my opinion that I don’t think they should be around her regularly whatsoever, but I do think a yearly visit isn’t going to damage Carly like Brandon and Teresa probably think it will. Even though Carly is a minor, I think especially at this age, she should be allowed to accept or decline the visits and I personally do not feel in my heart that she has anything to do with the fact that she’s not allowed to see them. I think it’s completely Brandon and Teresa’s doing. HOWEVER- I do think Teresa and Brandon have provided a wonderful life for Carly and there is no question that she was in a more stable environment than Cait and Tyler could have ever given her. As of this moment though, with all of the back and forth and attention, the damage has been done and they need to Let. It. Go. Let it go until she’s 18 and then they can see what happens. Right now, They are so close to her being an adult anyway that if I were them, I would likely just let it go and see what transpires once Carly is of age.
Just saying
Why leave out the part where visits were only for the first five years? Why ignore how Cate and Tyler went the two year TM hiatus without reaching out and only resumed when filming started again? And the repeated requests to keep things private that not only went ignored, but met with scorn and mudslinging.
And then there is the pesky fact that visitation is always within the discretion of the adoptive parents. It is their responsibility to act in what they think is in Carly’s best interest. They didn’t need to lay out conditions before because it was always going to be their decision. Let’s not forget that Cate and Tyler were supposed to go to college and lead productive lives, not still be on an MTV show, mixed up with the same family dynamics.
And Cate and Tyler are not children anymore. They haven’t been children in a long time. The actual children involved are being exploited by Cate and Tyler.
You have absolutely no idea what Carly thinks or wants because, despite Cate and Tyler’s best efforts, Carly’s parents have protected her privacy.
I think a yearly visit with Drunk April would be unpleasant for anyone.
Tyler is always a victim. Everything he just said, he CHOSE. He is speaking out now and blaming MTV because he has already blamed EVERYONE else and now their “living large” fantasy is OVER without MTV filming the show anymore. Amber is the same way. Tyler and Amber need to stop speaking publicly if they don’t want the “criticism”. People get tired of hearing their BS opinions. They are going to criticize because you put EVERYTHING out for everyone to have an opinion on. Just stop. You and Cate go live your lives, raise the children you have. Those girls deserve a “normal” like out of the spotlight and out of Carly’s shadow. Stop damaging your children. Wasn’t THAT the goal of you being on the show?
Oh my god… IF THEY WOULD JUST STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!!!!!
….. maybe, just maybe then people would leave them alone.
I’m sorry, Tyler. You and Cait felt mature enough to have unprotected sex. And when it came time to deal with the pregnancy it’s, “Oh no! We’re just kids being taken advantage of.” If you think you’re old enough to have unprotected sex and engage in grown up activities, then you are old enough to deal with the consequences.
Tyler, you can’t be saying how people were mean to Cate when you yourself called your wife you are supposed to love a ‘heifer’. You are one of those always skinny guys who just doesn’t get it. (I was bullied by those, it was always the skinniest guys who said that) So first, you need to check yourself cuz I feel it’s not only this that is affecting her mental health, it’s also you. I’m not saying Cate is all that great but she could have done better than being with you. Oh and when he said how Theresa is SUPPOSED to feel as she couldn’t have children on her own. (Which is very harmful on its own, not to mention doing stupid speculation)
You are just a sad excuse of a father (who remembers him being pissed that he has three daughters?!) who is obsessed with coming across as an AMAZING FATHER who always wanted to have Carly…didn’t you threaten to leave Cate if she doesn’t put her up for adoption?! (This woman has been feeding your ego from the get go) when in reality, the life you would have given her would apart from “fame” be nothing of the sort she is living now. She has PARENTS who actually WANT HER TO SUCCEED, not just be like she’s some belonging that was taken from them. That’s all that Carly is to you. You want to paint this amazing story how she’s coming back and hugging you and calling you “Mom” and “Dad”…when in reality she hardly knows you. And for the love of God, STOP MAKING YOUR THREE DAUGHTERS FEEL INFERIOR, you have three sweet girls, one with autism who you should put greater attention to, otherwise in a few years she will realize all you ever cared for is your firstborn who isn’t even yours.
If it wasn’t for MTV, I don’t think C&T would have been so involved in Carly’s life. If I’m remembering correctly, they barely reach out to her when TM went on hiatus in 2012. Or it was between 16&P and TM. I just remember there was a time they weren’t really involved in Carly’s life and MTV coming back prompted them to start.
Sounds like they were just as exploitative as MTV to me.
Yup. They didn’t reach out at all during the hiatus. And have insisted on filming every single visit and phone call. And last year had the audacity to claim that Brandon and Theresa were exploiting Carly for asking for travel reimbursement for a visit that Cate and Tyler made tens of thousands of dollars on.
If Tyler and Cait hadn’t hit the reality tv lottery they would still be in the rental trailer park singing the praises of adoption. They would be telling everyone how mature they were at a young age to give their daughter the life they could never give her and how they ended the cycle of abuse. Which is what they did.
But MTV has enabled them to do nothing with their lives so they need constant drama to generate online income. I remember the episode where they were HOURS late to meet up with Carly, like couldn’t even be bothered to show up in time. So incredibly inconsiderate to Carly.
C&T have spent Carly’s ENTIRE LIFE violating her privacy and USING HER to make money!! They’ve got NOTHING without her storyline!! I think Carly is HORRIFIED by them, and is going No Contact as soon as she turns 18. C&T will have only their own behavior to blame.
If he is so concerned about children being exploited, why the actual f*ck does he keep monetizing Carly and his daughters? He gets paid to talk about Carly and we all know it. He was paid to keep her front and center of their TM storyline. We know he puts his own kids in the spotlight, discussing every area of their lives, including medical issues, school issues, etc. Those kids don’t get to keep anything private. He hasn’t been a kid in over a decade. He is allergic to accountability.
No one cares that he changed his mind about adoption. People care that he keeps trying to make a quick buck off of it while dragging Carly’s parents through the mud.
Yes, you did sign up for this. You exchanged your privacy for cash. Being in the public eye opens you up to scrutiny. You are not a victim. You were lucky to have any contact with Carly at all. She’s not yours. Stop incessantly talking about someone else’s child. This is why there is no contact, because of your actions and your wife’s. Shut up already! Don’t you have other kids to focus on?
Thank you, and the issue is he KEEPS on doing it. You can’t complain about being taken advantage of when you didn’t know any better when you’re still signing up for the same thing 20 years later
They did sign up for this but they were kids. I think it’s fair that they feel differently now about the decision and I think it’s okay for them to share that. Doesn’t change that they are now doing the same thing that was done to them – putting the kids in public life, which is not okay.
They kept signing up right to the bitter end years after they reached adulthood.
Carly is almost a grown up and deserves a chance to not be dragged into this media spotlight.. I’m sure as a teen it’s embarrassing knowing you’re a part of this very public story. They’re selfish! This is all you need to know, they’re only thinking about themselves!
We’re still talking about this in 2026?
Holy faaaaaaaaaaaack!!
Tyler, you know what’s really harmful for your mental health?
Social media. Seeking validation from strangers on social media, stocking your estranged daughter on social media. Talking all the shit you talk on social media.
At any time during the many many many stays at mental health facilities did a therapist tell these two dorks “hey, you two should really keep up with sharing your issues online, it’s super positive for your mental health”? Lol
The show has allowed you to sit on your ass and never work. Is say you should be greatful. Focus on your actual kids. You’re not a victim.
You know if the cruelty and ridicule was that bad there was always the option to get off TV and social media . Clearly it’s not that bad because if it was they would have said screw this and they would have quit . Also literally everyone on that show gets back lash lol what is he talking about . Jenelle constantly gets eaten alive so does Kail even Chelsea gets destroyed for her plastic surgery and Farrah does too . Maci is ripped on for being an alcoholic . Amber is nuts so she gets her fair share of back lash . They want to stay perpetual victims . Grow up . If you can’t take the heat get out of the podcasting and social media .
This is a great point. Even the one halfway decent parent, Chelsea, gets torn apart.
A great way to avoid having your existence ripped apart is to find employment for something other than existing in front of cameras.
Fck you Tyler. You and your bitch ass mother guilt tripping Cait when she wanted to keep the baby. Just go away get a job proper job and shut the fck up about Carly.
Sadly, I agree.
If the show is cancelled for good, those two are going to have the rudest awakenings of everybody. They literally have no skills other than talking about their lives (which is not a skill).
If it was so horrible, why didn’t you quit the show years ago?
Y’all need more therapy. Leave this poor child alone for the first time in her life and stop exploiting her for clicks to stay relevant. You all keep cashing checks on a person who wants you to keep her name out of your mouths.
My issue with both of them has nothing to do with their changing stance on adoption. They have a right to change their mind just like anyone else does. My issue is the fact that they exploit Carly for clicks and views showing no regard for the fact that Carly didn’t sign up for a bullshit reality show. Carly is the only one that had no choice about anything.
My other issue is this public bashing they do of Brandon and Teresa. The only thing that Brandon and Teresa asked is that Carly not be publicly discussed especially on a national TV show. Catelyn and Tyler chose to ignore that for years as ADULTS. They made an ADULT decision that they would ignore Brandon and Teresa’s wishes for their daughter to have privacy knowing they were risking never seeing Carly again.
If I were Brandon and Teresa I would have hit them with a cease and desist letter. When Cate and Ty decided to escalate things and start trying to elicit information about Carly from Carly’s minor friends I would have hit them with a restraining order. I’d still do both of those things. Brandon and Teresa are too nice which is both why Cate and Ty chose them to adopt Carly and the reason they thought they could run over them with no retaliation.
Perfectly said!!
If they didnt keep exploiting Carly for cash, B&T would have kept them in her life. They didnt sign up for being part of a television series, they agreed to being part of the ONE show. Yet they kept their agreement, evening bringing Carly to Cate and Tyler’s wedding. When they wanted the kid off the cameras and no longer talked about on TV, it became a HUGE problem because that would be cutting off Cate and Tyler’s only income. You chose money over an open adoption relationship with Carly.
Adoption didn’t screw you over, Tyler. Greed and laziness did.
It is unlikely a judge would grant a restraining order. C&T live in a different state and have never made any direct threats to B&T&C. It is very unlikely it would be granted ex parte, which would mean that C&T would have the option to defend themselves in a hearing. Which would potentially bring C&T down to South Carolina for the hearing. Which then if it is still denied, now there’s no restraining order and C&T are in their town. I can absolutely see why Brandon and Teresa would choose not to go for the restraining order, especially with Carly being so close to adulthood.
This is frustrating on so many levels! First of all, nobody cares that he and Cate changed their feelings about adoption; it’s the way they go about it that gets them negative attention. Second, continuing to bash Carly’s actual parents is disgraceful; not only does she love them, but they have given her a life she never would have had with Cate and Ty. Third, Tyler and his mahm were the biggest bashers of Catelynn’s stints in therapy! They dragged her, on camera! That doesn’t even address the teenager stalking and other creepy behavior, such as the “sisters forever” blanket….
I will never pretend I know how hard it is to give my baby to another family. As a mom of 4, I can’t fathom having an extension of me out there and it not being raised in my home. I imagine that leaves a huge hole in one’s heart that can only be filled by having that child back.
In a way, I can understand where he’s coming from and why their thoughts on adoption have changed, however, does he forget the shit-show that was their life back then? They saved Carly from a lifetime of repeating patterns simply by allowing her to be loved and raised by two people capable and willing to give her a better life. That’s the life she deserves. Regardless of how they felt then or how they feel now, they did right by her by allowing her to be raised in a stable family. I feel like he keeps forgetting that.
I think he means to say, he regrets his decision for baby Carly and is now grasping at straws to stay relevant.
Ty-Ty’s feelings about adoption have dropped….
Also, when you put yourself in the public eye, you ARE signing yourself up for judgement and ridicule?
And stop reading it. Put your phone down, get a job and ignore it
You know what’s really unfair, Tyler? The way you and Cate treat Brandon and Theresa’s daughter? How about the way you two brag about “breaking the cycle” all while raising your daughters around weed and onlyfans? You guys are losers. Grow up.
Peoplesre tired of the bitching and sense of entitlement when it comes to a child you didn’t raise. Nor are appreciative of what brandon and theresa have done for them