Gypsy Rose Blanchard is responding after Ken Urker’s sister Autumn Urker publicly criticized her bereavement in the wake of his untimely death.
“At this time, I do not want the focus surrounding Ken’s passing to become centered on negativity or disagreements between Autumn and me,” Blanchard, 35, exclusively told Us in a Saturday, October 3, statement. “It is no secret that Autumn did not approve of Ken’s relationship with me, and there has been significant tension between us, including public comments she made about me in the months leading up to his passing.”
Us confirmed on Thursday, October 1, that Ken was found dead at his Louisiana home on his 34th birthday. While grieving his death, Autumn, 31, publicly accused Blanchard of lying about the circumstances surrounding Ken’s death and making allegedly disgusting comments about her ex. (A cause of death has not been publicly revealed amid a pending investigation.)
“Right now, my priority is grieving Ken, supporting our daughter and honoring his memory,” Blanchard told Us on Saturday. “I remain in communication with Ken’s family, and aside from my relationship with Autumn, those communications have been positive and respectful during an incredibly painful time.”
Blanchard and Ken briefly dated in 2018 amid her prison sentence for her involvement in her mother’s murder. Blanchard and Ken reconciled in 2024 following her divorce from Ryan Anderson, going on to welcome daughter Aurora that December.
On Saturday, Blanchard further opened up to Us about her “final phone conversation” with Ken days before his sudden death.
“During my final phone conversation with Ken on Monday, September 28, he told me that he was deeply distressed by the situation,” Blanchard claimed, referring to her feud with Autumn. “[He] said that Autumn had repeatedly threatened to ‘go harder’ publicly and further contribute to the negative commentary and scrutiny he was already experiencing. Those were Ken’s statements to me, and I can only speak to what he personally communicated.”
Blanchard, who alleged that Ken had been subject of online harassment before his death, has since proposed a new law to advocate for “stronger protections and accountability” in cyberbullying cases.
“I would much rather use my voice to focus on that work and on preserving Ken’s legacy than continue a public family dispute,” she stressed on Saturday. “I sincerely hope everyone can allow Ken to be remembered for the person and father he was rather than allowing disagreements among those who loved him to overshadow his life.”
Ken is survived by daughter Aurora, 16 months, as well as his parents and siblings.
