Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Boyfriend Ken Urker Reveals How They 'Reconnected' After Her Prison Release (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker.Photo:Gypsy-Rose Blanchard/Instagram

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard/Instagram

Ken Urkerhas re-discovered love withGypsy Rose Blanchard, and he isn’t letting go.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the bartender, 31, opened up about how the couple reconnected after calling off their engagement.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Ryan Anderson and Ken Urker.Phillip Faraone/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty ; Ken Urker/Instagram

Phillip Faraone/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty ; Ken Urker/Instagram

In October 2018, Urker proposed to Blanchard, though theybriefly called off their engagement before reunitingin August 2019. Despite their reconciliation, the two ended up going their separate ways for the second time.

Blanchard then met her estranged husbandRyan Andersonin 2020 and eventually tied tied the knot in July 2022 while she was still in prison. After she was released on Dec. 28, 2023, Blanchard announced her separation from Anderson less than four months later.

Now, Urker tells PEOPLE how he and Blanchard found their way back to each other.

“We first reconnected the very first weekend of April is when I came to visit her for the first time after she had gotten out,” he recalls. “We spent that weekend together and had an incredible time.”

Ken Urker (L) and Gypsy Rose Blanchard.Gypsy-Rose Blanchard/Instagram

After that first meeting, things snowballed when they met up a month later toattend Jazz Fest.

When it comes to family, Urker says his loved ones have “fully and embraced and accepted Gypsy as a part of the family.”

It’s no secret Blanchard has been dealt tough cards in life, but Urker admits it’s been amazing to see how she’s “blossomed into an incredible person” since her release from prison.

“I couldn’t be more proud to have her as the mother of our child and as a partner in life,” he smiles. “And I think that even after all the things that she’s gone through, that was one of the things that I loved about her from the beginning.”

“She retained such a kind spirit and loving personality. You would think that on paper, that somebody who had been through that much trauma would be affected in some of the worst ways,” he explains. “And for her, I didn’t see it. I saw such a incredible spirit and soul. That’s what ultimately made me fall in love with her.”

“But since she’s gotten out, she continues to just grow and become the best version of herself. And I couldn’t be happier to have her at my side in this life,” Urker adds.

WhenGypsy Rose: Life After Lock Upseason 2 premieres in March, fans will be able to see what Blanchard’s life looks like now as she juggles life as a free woman, a pending divorce, a rekindled romance and her unexpected journey into motherhood.

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Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Upseason 2 premieres Monday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

source: people.com