Rugby league icon Wally Lewis has spoken emotionally about the rift with his adult children, caused by his marriage to his second wife, Lynda. Lewis, known as 'The King,' revealed his regret over the situation and extended an apology to his children, Mitch, Lincoln, and Jamie-Lee, who have reportedly rejected him since his separation from his first wife, Jacqui, after 36 years of marriage.
Lewis, 66, admitted that the family estrangement has been a difficult period. "I had a bit of a tough time in my life and sad departure from my family," Lewis told News Corp. "I don't feel good about that and I don't get the chance to spend much time with my kids. They are three wonderful kids and I'm very sorry it affected them."
He added, "But I'm very proud of them and the support they give their mother." Lewis's children did not attend his second wedding to Lynda, which took place in Brisbane in April of last year. In contrast, Lynda's daughter, Sydney, was present at the ceremony.
Lewis, who was diagnosed with epilepsy and the brain disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also shared what attracted him to Lynda. "Lynda knows nothing about football," he said. "When we were first introduced she said, 'Who’s Wally Lewis? What does he do?' It made me happy because I didn't have to talk about footy. We’re happy and we’re getting on with life."
He previously commented on the situation when his romance with Lynda first came to light, stating, "I hope over time we can rebuild our ties and move on with life." He confirmed his new relationship in a statement released in February 2021, which also acknowledged the pain his family had experienced due to his separation from Jacqui.
A family insider reportedly told Woman's Day that reconciliation between Lewis and his children is unlikely, suggesting the children are deeply loyal to their mother and view any reconciliation with their father as a betrayal. Lewis married Jacqui in November 1984, and she had been a significant support during his health challenges, including his epilepsy diagnosis after a seizure on live television.
Lewis has recently praised Lynda for her patience as he navigates his ongoing health issues, including epilepsy and CTE. He also shared a birthday message for Lynda, expressing his anticipation of celebrating many more years together.