Kayla Harper, wife of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, became visibly emotional during a rare joint interview discussing the challenges of public criticism directed at her husband. On the "Let's Be Honest" podcast with host Kristin Cavallari, she revealed that attacks on Bryce's character are more difficult to bear than critiques of his baseball performance.
"It’s not even when people say he sucks, because obviously he doesn’t suck. I think its more when they attack his character and I’m like, ‘That is not him at all,'" Kayla said, becoming tearful. She expressed the difficulty of hearing public opinions about her husband when those opinions do not reflect the person she knows as a husband, father, or friend.
Kayla noted that Bryce has faced significant media scrutiny since the early stages of his career. She described the struggle of witnessing someone she cares about being "torn apart by everybody who doesn’t know him" and the temptation to respond to these public opinions. "I lived a relatively normal life so seeing somebody that person you care the most about getting torn apart by everybody who doesn’t know him," she stated. She admitted to having responded in the past, particularly when she was younger, but now finds it difficult to remain silent.
Bryce Harper, however, stated that he largely dismisses public criticism. "I just feel like, not any of those people that are really saying stuff are ever going to be at my Thanksgiving dinner," he commented. He added that he has been accustomed to public scrutiny since childhood.
Bryce and Kayla Harper, who met as teenagers, have been married for 16 years and have four children. IMAGE6: IMAGE7:
