Deon Derrico is setting the record straight after allegedly being accused on social media of “abandoning” his children in the wake of his divorce from wife Karen Derrico.
As The Ashley previously told you, the Doubling Down with the Derricos couple, who have appeared on TLC with their 14 children since 2020, officially– and secretly– ended their marriage in June, just two days after filing for divorce.
Per the agreement, Deon and Karen are to split legal and physical custody of their 13 minor children. (Their oldest child, Darian, is 18 years old, so she was not mentioned in the divorce filing.) In addition, Deon was ordered to pay $1,166 a month in child support, while Karen is responsible for covering the minor children’s medical insurance.
This week, Deon took to Facebook Watch to address the backlash he’s received from fans of the TLC series regarding the relatively low amount he was ordered to pay his ex-wife in child support.
“Many of you have had discrepancies about ‘Why is my child support so low?’ Well, let me address that,” he said. “Karen pays the medical insurance, and because she pays the medical insurance– which is about $2,000 a month– the legal fair equity of it is that I pay her half of the money she’s paying for healthcare.”
According to Deon, that only makes him responsible for (approximately) $1,000 in monthly child support, though he went on to assure fans that he’s contributing much more than that financially toward his kids.
“But let me be very clear, I cover every bill in both of our houses,” he claimed, confirming that he and Karen now reside in “separate houses.”
“I cover bills at both houses,” Deon said. “That’s two washing machines and dryers, that’s two kitchens, that’s two stoves, that’s bathrooms at both houses, that’s toilet paper, that’s light bill, gas bill, mortgages, hazard insurance, I cover all of that.
“So when you think that I just have abandoned my children … my biggest question is where have I shown actions of abandonment?” Deon asked.
Deon went on to claim that those who know his mother, Marian “GG” Derrico–- who joined him in the video–- should know that he would have to answer to her if he were ever to “do such a thing” like abandon his children.
Later in the video, Deon reiterated that he covers “every single bill” in the Derrico family, insisting he was not sharing this detail to brag, but rather because he is “proud to be in the position to do it.”
“But more than that, I’m thankful to God that I have a mother that raised me with the understanding to know my job as a man and responsibility as a man is to do it,” he added. “I’m here in my children’s lives as a father, not just taking care of their bills, but as a hands-on, taking them to the games, spending time with them, wrestling with my boys, playing makeup with my daughters.
“I’m here as a hands-on father because I want to be [and] I enjoy it,” he continued. “I enjoy it whether Karen and I are together or not.”
Deon said both he and Karen have a responsibility to their 14 children to provide a “loving, nurturing environment,” which they both will always do, even if they do not see eye-to-eye. As for fans of the show who have been vocal about wanting to see Deon and Karen “make it work,” Deon insisted their split was for the best.
“So, if we stayed together and was fighting, would that be healthier for the children?” he asked.
Watch Deon’s full video below!
(Photos: Instagram)
16 Responses
B.S. So she pays $2000 a month for the kids medical insurance and he is required to pay half of that. And the court order for child support on 14 kids is $1100? Who does he think he is kidding? I seriously doubt he pays 2 mortgages, utility bills etc. B.S.
I am so so so sorry to hear this!
I always felt that the good Lord has blessed you so much. I can’t help but think the evil cameras in the home contributed. You both are such loving, giving kind parents an inspiration to so many. I will keep you all in prayer. You are such a beautiful family.
And don’t pay attention to the haters and the trolls. You both are Gods beautiful children!
He got you🙏
Sending nothing but love and blessings your way!
What did NANCY say about drugs.
I love this show and hope that for whatever reason they had to divorce or go bankrupt, that it works out. They are both amazing parents doing a great job. As he says, we don’t know much from an edited 47 minutes a week for what 8 episodes? Get over the stupid schadenfreude! Ya.Google THAT!
SURE DURCH, google that.
It was all for the camera. Get real.
It’s a divorce on paper only, they’re still living together. Deon had to file bankruptcy for his business, Karen didn’t want to be help responsible for it.
Who got eric??
😅
I read about a few things when they came own.
That’s a lot of kids to clothe and feed. And the house was clean and the kids were clean with clean clothes.
I watched this series over the seasons and began to creep out about it. First, all the matching outfits; the reference to the father by his last name, by his wife. The pseudo religion that was not church based but the idea that birthing as many children as possible was responsible and a good way to live, a la 18 Kids and Counting cult religion. The father did not seem to support the family and his appearance was not compatible with a real estate career. The home schooling of the kids seemed ridiculous, given the different age levels of the kids and their large number. Everything about the show began to annoy me and then it was revealed that the couple divorced in two days time. Nothing made any sense and I smelled financial scamming. I do not like the parents and feel that they have engaged in fraudulent financial practices. I wish they would disappear from the news.
You mean the sweatshirts with the incorrect phonetic pronunciation keys? It’s Deon saying, “Let me show you how uneducated we all are.” Along with his misuse of the word “discrepancies” in the above quote, and “…if we was.” He tries so hard to use big words to appear intelligent, but comes off looking like a clown.
so YOU know how to pronounce THIER names?! tf outta here with that nonsense
Sounds exhausting.
BS, they are both scammers. Look how many times they filed for bankruptcy. They are in on this together just pulling off another scam.
Research shows a lot of grifting.