Tyler Baltierra is clarifying some polarizing comments he made during a recent episode of his and wife Catelynn Lowell’s Cate & Ty: Break It Down podcast, insisting to listeners that he was not comparing addiction to adoption.
As fans of Teen Mom know, Tyler and Cate placed their biological daughter Carly for adoption in 2009 and in 2024, the couple was cut off from contacting the teen after her parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis, closed their adoption. While Tyler and Cate frequently speak about (and criticize) adoption, Tyler recently struck a nerve among a number of fans after claiming that society is more sympathetic to those who struggle with addiction than those who have placed a child for adoption.
Tyler’s comments came during the May 27 episode of ‘Cate & Ty: Break It Down,’ in which he and Cate spoke about Amanda Conner, wife of ‘Teen Mom’ dad Ryan Edwards, who was recently arrested for DUI, child abuse and other charges, with the pair even titling their episode, “Unexpected Updates & The Amanda Arrest Fallout.”
During the episode, Tyler told listeners he’s glad that people have learned more about addiction and are “more sympathetic” to those who are struggling with it; however, he went on to say that he also finds it “interesting” how people responded to a recent post Cate made about Carly’s birthday compared to the “sympathy and empathy” Amanda received after being arrested and later admitting that she had relapsed.
“ … We’re talking about a woman in recovery who relapsed, and during that relapse, put her child in danger and herself in danger … ,” Tyler said, referring to the fact that Amanda’s arrest came after Ryan called the police to inform them that his wife was allegedly driving high with their daughter Presley in the car.
Tyler went on to say that Amanda “gets this amount of sympathy and empathy because she’s struggling with this addiction problem,” while Cate– “who’s sober, not on drugs [and] a great mom”– receives a much different reaction from the public when she posts about “how hard it is that she doesn’t get to see the baby she relinquished out of desperation.”
Tyler told listeners the different reaction to these two scenarios “blows [his] mind,” and serves as a reminder of how much focus has been put on “studying addiction,” whereas “adoption is still in the shadows.”
“Like, how is it possible that a woman who endangered children because she’s a drug addict gets more sympathy and empathy over a birth mother who relinquished [her child] out of desperation talking about missing [her child] on her birthday” Tyler added.
Days after the podcast episode dropped, Tyler took to his Instagram Story to respond the backlash he received on social media, telling listeners he “just KNEW” that his comments would be taken out of context.
“To clarify, I was not comparing addiction to adoption,” Tyler wrote. “I was comparing society’s empathy, awareness & understanding towards addicts & birthmothers. This was in no way to ‘shade’ Amanda AT ALL, I would never shame anyone in recovery.
“If you listen to the whole episode, I say it multiple times how I wish her & her family nothing but healing,” he continued. “I’m the first one to know the affects of addiction & the struggles that come along with recovery. I’m proud of her for seeking help & I’m rooting for her!”
Tyler went on to claim that the comments he made on the podcast episode were “a simple observation of societal/cultural differences when it comes to how we sympathize with addicts who are suffering vs how sympathize with birthmothers who are suffering.”
Listen to a clip of Tyler’s comments from the podcast episode below.
RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Alum Amanda Conner Speaks Out Following DUI Arrest; Admits to Relapse: “I Fell Hard”
(Photos: Instagram; MTV)
2 Responses
There are no parallels, only Cait and Tyler would try to make somebody else’s arrest about their adopt choice.
These two air bags need therapy, not a podcast. I called Tyler out for being unhinged in their manic persuit of Carly and he blocked me.
Oh weird, they made a situation that had nothing to do with them about themselves. Somewhere Carly is cringing.