Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s ex-husband Ryan Anderson has expressed his “shock” after learning of the death of his former partner Ken Urker.
Urker died of a suspected overdose at his home in Louisiana on Thursday, his 34th birthday. He was found with drug paraphernalia and a gun at the time of his death, according to a police report obtained by Page Six.
“I didn’t believe it at first. I said no. My first thought was shock; ‘Hmm, how did this happen?'” Anderson told “The Sarah Fraser Show.” Friday.
Anderson, 40, said her thoughts quickly turned to Blanchard and her 1-year-old daughter, Aurora, whom she shares with Urker.
“My immediate thought was ‘How’s Gypsy doing?’ happened. The first thought that came to my mind was: ‘How is he? What about their children?’” she continued.
Blanchard and Anderson married in June 2022 while he was serving time for his role in the 2015 murder of his mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
They announced their separation in March 2024, following Blanchard’s release from prison in December 2023.
Weeks later, Blanchard confirmed her relationship with Urker, whom she first met while he was incarcerated in 2017. They got engaged in October 2018 but later broke up.
Blanchard and Urker, who rekindled their love in early 2024, welcomed Aurora in December of the same year.
Anderson said that he and Urker “never saw eye-to-eye” but had never met in person.
“We’ve never met in person, but we’ve talked on the phone and exchanged text messages. We’ve interacted and they’ve never been good,” he said.
“But you still hate hearing about someone dying.”
Anderson revealed that he had not spoken to Blanchard in nearly a year. He reached out to his father, Rod Blanchard, after hearing the news.
“I said, ‘Hey man, I heard the news. If it’s true, tell Gypsy I’m sorry. If she needs me, tell her I’m here for her,'” he said.
“I was always someone who could make her laugh or comfort her when she was sad.”
Anderson said that his “main concern is Aurora and Gypsy” and that he would be there for Blanchard as a friend if she ever reached him.
“I don’t know if he would,” she added, “but if he did, I would definitely be there for him just like I was there for him because I always was.”
Page Six previously reported that Blanchard and Urker quietly ended their relationship about a month before his death.
Blanchard claimed in a statement Friday that Urker died of a suspected overdose and said he was “in disbelief.”
“I can’t think. I screamed until my throat burned,” he said. “Ken was a wonderful father and a deeply loved man. He will forever be my soul mate and my red string; a bond that time, distance or even death can never erase.”
He also noted that Urker has struggled with negative comments directed at him online.
“Ken has endured unimaginable levels of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying on social media platforms including TikTok and Reddit,” she said. “The persecution directed at him was something no human being should ever have to endure.”
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).