Gypsy-Rose Blanchard Appeals for Kindness Amidst Ex-Fiancé's Death
Blanchard urges followers to combat online harassment following the death of Ken Urker, with whom she shared a daughter.
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard has taken to Instagram to address the intense public scrutiny surrounding the death of her ex-fiancé, Ken Urker, urging her followers to practice kindness and empathy. The appeal comes as Blanchard, 35, mourns Urker, who died on October 1 at the age of 34.
Blanchard shared a quote on her social media that read, "Your gossip could be the darkest time in someone's life. Be kind." She also promoted #kenanslaw, a Change.org petition she initiated in Urker's memory. This initiative aims to advocate for enhanced responses from social-media platforms to persistent online harassment.
Authorities confirmed Urker was found deceased upon arrival at a Raceland, Louisiana residence on October 1, his 34th birthday. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into the official cause of death, which has not yet been announced.
According to reports, Anita Blanchard, Gypsy-Rose's sister-in-law, contacted 911 to request a wellness check for Urker after he missed a work shift and had reportedly been experiencing mental distress.
Blanchard and Urker's relationship began when he was her pen pal during her incarceration for the murder of her mother, Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard. Urker initially reached out to Blanchard after viewing the 2017 documentary "Mommy Dead and Dearest" and visited her while she was in prison. They became engaged in October 2018, but their relationship ended the following year.
Following her release from prison in late 2023, Blanchard, who had married Ryan Anderson in 2022 while still incarcerated, announced their separation. She later rekindled her romance with Urker in 2024, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Aurora, on December 28, 2024.
In an earlier Instagram post on October 2, Blanchard described Urker as "an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved." She referred to him as her "soulmate" and expressed that "time, distance, and even death can never erase" their connection. Blanchard emphasized Urker's love for their daughter Aurora, stating that she would ensure Aurora grows up knowing her father's love and character beyond public perception. "He will be deeply missed, forever loved and never forgotten," she concluded.