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Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of Ken Urker, the father of her daughter, firmly denying any involvement in his sudden passing.
In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia that aired on November 15, the 35-year-old recalled learning that Urker had died on October 1, his 34th birthday. His body was found at his home in Raceland, Louisiana.
Blanchard said she initially refused to believe the news when she was told what had happened. "I just kept saying, 'No, no, no, no.' This isn't true. You're lying, you're making this up," she recalled. "And I just hit the floor, and I just remember screaming, 'No, no.'"
She admitted that she is still struggling to understand his death and the changes it has brought to her life. "Honestly, I'm still trying to process everything. It's been really difficult because, I just, I can't make sense of anything anymore," she said.
During the interview, reporter Amelia Adams directly asked whether Blanchard had anything to do with Urker's death. She responded, "Absolutely not. No."
The question came amid public speculation following the discovery of Urker's body. Police found drug paraphernalia and a holstered handgun nearby, but the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office previously said there was no evidence of foul play.
Blanchard described the accusations against her as deeply hurtful, stressing the importance of Urker in her life. "That's the father of my child. I've known Ken for almost nine years. No other man, no other person, had my heart like he did," she said.
The couple shared a two-year-old daughter, Aurora, and had been together since 2017. Urker initially connected with Blanchard while she was serving time in prison, becoming her pen pal before their relationship developed.
Blanchard revealed that their relationship had been under strain in the months before his death and that Urker had moved out. She said the constant criticism they faced online had taken a toll on him, particularly accusations that he was a child predator because of their relationship.
She also pointed to the backlash following the release of recordings of private prison phone calls between her and her former husband, Ryan Anderson, in August. Blanchard said the controversy affected Urker and contributed to his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
"It was definitely being called a child predator for no reason. That was one that really got to him because he's a father," she said.
Reflecting on life without him, Blanchard broke down as she described the future they had planned together.
She said she intends to raise their daughter while keeping Urker's memory alive and is also pushing for a law in his name aimed at addressing bullying on social media.
