Kristin Cavallari said co-parenting with ex-husband Jay Cutler has been “complicated” as the pair disagree over whether their younger children should have phones.
On the latest episode of her "Let's Be Honest" podcast, released Tuesday, the 38-year-old reality star described seeing her children "zombies" on their devices in the mornings and said she preferred to wait until age 12 to give phones to her younger two. Cavallari said she had followed that threshold with her eldest child, Camden, now 13, and that she "did not buy Jaxon or Saylor their phones." She added that she can "control what I can control," mentioning parental controls as a tool.
Cavallari did not name Cutler on the podcast, but her remarks suggested differing approaches between the parents. She said the situation was "slightly more complicated than that," noting that because she did not purchase the phones for Jaxon, 11, and Saylor, 9, her authority to restrict their use was limited. Page Six reported that a representative for Cutler did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The comments come amid an extended and occasionally public dispute between the former couple, who separated in 2020. Cavallari has previously criticized Cutler in media interviews, calling him a "pathological liar" and accusing him of inconsistent behavior. Cutler has pushed back, accusing Cavallari of making false statements about their 2022 divorce settlement. On his "Take It Outside" podcast last month, Cutler said suggestions that he paid nothing in the settlement were "completely false," and he said a judge-signed divorce decree documents the financial terms. Cavallari declined to answer questions about the settlement when approached by TMZ.
The couple share three children: Camden, Jaxon and Saylor. Cavallari described observing a morning routine she said involved heavy cellphone use and framed her preference as an attempt to limit that exposure for younger children. She also emphasized parental controls as a mitigating step when a device is in use.
Observers and professionals have long debated the appropriate age for children to receive smartphones; pediatric and child development organizations recommend balancing safety, communication needs and screen-time concerns. Cavallari’s comments reflect those broader debates while illustrating how differing custody arrangements and purchasing decisions can create friction between co-parents.
Neither Cavallari nor Cutler has provided a detailed public plan for resolving their recent disagreements. Their exchange over the past year has included interviews and podcast remarks from both sides that highlight disputes about trust, communication and the terms of their divorce. The ongoing tension has played out in public comments rather than court filings, according to available reports.
Representatives for both parties did not provide further comment to Page Six beyond earlier denials and requests for clarification. Cavallari said on the podcast that co-parenting has been a "bumpy road" and "really hard," language that echoes prior public remarks about the couple's post-divorce relationship.
As co-parents navigate device access and household rules, cases like this underscore the practical complications that can arise when parents live separately and make different choices about technology, discipline and privacy. Cavallari’s public statements on the matter keep the dispute in the headlines as both parents continue to discuss aspects of their split in media appearances and on their respective podcasts.