Gypsy Rose Blanchard is thankful for the public’s support in the wake of Ken Urker’s death.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, and condolences,” she wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, October 5. “I’m sorry I can’t respond to every message, but please know I see them and I’m so grateful.”
Blanchard, 35, went on to share a link to the petition she launched in Urker’s honor to combat online harassment, urging her followers to “sign and share.”
News broke on Thursday, October 1, that Urker died on his 34th birthday. A cause of death has not been revealed, but according to a police report, Urker was found after Gypsy’s sister-in-law Anita Blanchard called 911 for a wellness check.
Police were dispatched to Urker’s home in Louisiana, but he didn’t answer the door or his phone. Gypsy’s half-brother, Dylan Blanchard, eventually entered the home after climbing in through an unlocked bedroom window.
Once inside, authorities found drug paraphernalia in the bathroom. A syringe, handgun and two shot glasses were also discovered on a nightstand by Urker’s bed.
Speaking to People on Thursday, Gypsy noted that she was in “disbelief” over Urker’s death. The pair were briefly engaged in 2018, later welcoming daughter Aurora in 2024 after Gypsy’s split from ex-husband Ryan Anderson.
“Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved,” Gypsy added on Thursday. “He will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.”
While unveiling her petition on Sunday, October 4, Gypsy further opened up about Urker’s state of mind before his death.
“Before his passing, Ken experienced an overwhelming amount of online scrutiny and what we believed crossed the line into targeted harassment and cyberbullying. Reports were made across multiple platforms, and far too often, the response was simply: ‘No violation,’” she claimed in an Instagram caption.
She continued, “Kenan’s Law is about changing the way social-media platforms handle repeated reports of harassment. One post viewed alone may not tell the whole story — but hundreds of posts, videos and comments directed at one person can reveal a pattern that deserves meaningful review.”
Gypsy emphasized that the petition was not “about silencing criticism or taking away anyone’s freedom of speech,” but she claimed “fame should never erase someone’s humanity.”
“Ken’s passing has made me determined to turn pain into purpose. I cannot change what happened, but I can advocate for a better system for the next person who feels like no one is listening,” she wrote. “Please sign and share the petition to support Kenan’s Law. Fame does not erase humanity. A pattern cannot always be understood one post at a time. 🤍.”
