Tyler Baltierra is dispelling the long-standing rumor that he made his now-wife Catelynn Lowell place their biological daughter Carly for adoption in 2009, more than a year after he and Cate disputed the claim on their podcast.
As fans of ‘Teen Mom’ know, Tyler and Cate placed their first-born child for adoption during their episode of ‘16 and Pregnant,‘ with the pair going on to share their adoption journey– for better and worse– on TV for years to come.
While Tyler and Cate’s relationship with Carly’s parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis, went south in recent years, with Brandon and Teresa ultimately closing Carly’s adoption in 2024, Tyler took to social media this week to clear up the rumor that he “made Catelynn give up their baby” by making her “choose between him and Carly.”
“This is completely false & just one of the many conspiracy theories out there about me & my wife and our relinquishing experience,” Tyler posted Wednesday to his Instagram Story. “We’ve addressed this so many times already, but I still think it’s important to do so. Because not only is this rumor NOT true, but it’s INCREDIBLY cruel to minimize my wife’s decision down to some sort of preservation choice.
“Because the primal love & pain that’s required to relinquish your own baby is the complete opposite of self preservation,” he continued.
Tyler insisted that, while he and Cate had “adolescent fears” and “worries” throughout Cate’s pregnancy and that they both “flip flopped many times” on what to do in their situation, they both “wanted to take [Carly] home that day.” He also claimed that this particular rumor is demeaning to Cate as a birth parent.
“So all this rumor/conspiracy theory does, is take away my wife’s sacrificial love & power to do what she felt was right for her baby, out of pure desperation,” he wrote. “I really wish moving forward, that people would show her more respect & grace for that decision, rather than unjustifiable & unnecessary opinions that only minimize her experience & spread false information. She deserves better!”
Tyler ended his post by telling followers that while he and Cate often laugh at rumors they hear about themselves, this is one that he “really wish[es] would stop.”
“It’s a disservice to my wife’s experience as birthmother,” he added. “Please do better!”
Cate went on to repost Tyler’s statement, while praising him for his remarks.
“Legit made me cry [I love you],” she wrote.
Tyler’s comments about the long-standing rumor surrounding Carly’s adoption come more than year after he and Cate addressed the issue on an episode of their ‘Cate & Ty Break It Down’ podcast.
“ … For people to think that I would choose a man over my child– but then again for them to just think that [Tyler has] no emotions or sadness or sorrow or any want,” she said on the March 2025 episode, as reported by Daily Mail.
Cate went on to note that the claim was especially “sick,” given that she and Tyler went on to stay together, get married and welcome three more children.
Likewise, Tyler insisted on the episode that the notion he would give Cate “some ultimatum” on the matter was an “insane” thing for anyone to suggest.
RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Tyler Baltierra Reacts to Fans Saying His Bio Daughter Carly Will Come “Home” to Him When She Turns 18
(Photos: MTV; Instagram)
