Tyler Baltierra is dispelling the long-standing rumor that he made his now-wife Catelynn Lowell place their biological daughter Carly for adoption in 2009, and that he threatened to break up with Catelynn if she chose to parent their baby. He also defended Carly’s parents when a fan attacked them on social media recently.
As fans of ‘Teen Mom’ know, Tyler and Cate placed their firstborn child for adoption during their episode of “16 and Pregnant,“ with the pair going on to share their adoption journey– for better and worse– on TV for years to come.
While Tyler and Cate’s relationship with Carly’s parents Brandon and Teresa Davis went south in recent years—with Brandon and Teresa ultimately closing Carly’s adoption in 2024– Tyler took to social media this week to clear up the rumor that he “made Catelynn give up their baby” by making her “choose between him and Carly.”
“This is completely false & just one of the many conspiracy theories out there about me & my wife and our relinquishing experience,” Tyler posted Wednesday to his Instagram Story. “We’ve addressed this so many times already, but I still think it’s important to do so. Because not only is this rumor NOT true, but it’s INCREDIBLY cruel to minimize my wife’s decision down to some sort of preservation choice.
“Because the primal love & pain that’s required to relinquish your own baby is the complete opposite of self-preservation,” he continued.
Tyler insisted that, while he and Cate had “adolescent fears” and “worries” throughout Cate’s pregnancy and that they both “flip flopped many times” on what to do in their situation, they both “wanted to take [Carly] home that day.” He also claimed that this particular rumor is demeaning to Cate as a birth parent.
“So all this rumor/conspiracy theory does, is take away my wife’s sacrificial love & power to do what she felt was right for her baby, out of pure desperation,” he wrote. “I really wish moving forward, that people would show her more respect & grace for that decision, rather than unjustifiable & unnecessary opinions that only minimize her experience & spread false information. She deserves better!”
Tyler ended his post by telling followers that, while he and Cate often laugh at rumors they hear about themselves, this is one that he “really wish[es] would stop.”
“It’s a disservice to my wife’s experience as birthmother,” he added. “Please do better!”
Cate went on to repost Tyler’s statement, while praising him for his remarks.
“Legit made me cry [I love you],” she wrote.
Tyler followed it up by posting a screenshot of a comment he made in response to a fan writing that Tyler and Catelynn were “exploited” and preyed upon by Brandon and Teresa, whom the fan called “condescending vultures.”
Tyler thanked the fan for their support and for their “ability to see the situation for what it is.” However, he argued that Brandon and Teresa “love [Carly] dearly and she loves them just as much” and asked fans not to attack Brandon and Teresa.
“So regardless of the ‘how’ or ‘why,’ they indeed are her parents, so please try and refrain from calling them unnecessary names like ‘condescending vultures.’ I know and recognize there is a lot of pain and anger in the adoption community … but I also don’t want to add to any of that pain and anger by her possibly reading comments about the parents that she loves.”
Tyler’s comments about the long-standing rumors surrounding Carly’s adoption come more than year after he and Cate addressed the issue on an episode of their Cate & Ty Break It Down podcast.
“ … For people to think that I would choose a man over my child– but then again for them to just think that [Tyler has] no emotions or sadness or sorrow or any want…” she said on the March 2025 episode.
Cate went on to note that the claim was especially “sick,” given that she and Tyler went on to stay together, get married and welcome three more children.
Likewise, Tyler insisted on the episode that the notion he would give Cate “some ultimatum” on the matter was an “insane” thing for anyone to suggest.
RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Tyler Baltierra Reacts to Fans Saying His Bio Daughter Carly Will Come “Home” to Him When She Turns 18
(Photos: MTV; Instagram)
This is the ONLY WAY they have to MAKE MONEY, by violating Carly’s privacy throughout her whole life!! 👿🔥 I hope she goes NO CONTACT with them the day she turns 18!
Oh, so now he doesn’t want anyone bashing Brandon and Theresa to spare Carly’s feelings? After spending the past 15 years encouraging it?
Ugh, no one would be talking about Carly or her parents at all if he just stopped making his victimhood his entire identity.
These two have crossed the line so many times it’s funny how he all of the sudden is defending them as her 18 birthday is approaching rapidly. I do think cate has problems and something happened to her when she was younger. They have struggled since the day they gave her up with emotions of it all. I truly feel if they had done this not on socials things would be a lot different. Also they should have saved their money and got themselves off TV where imo they were exploited and thrown away when the teens mom shows were over. Mtv is garbage!!
Looks like someone figured out how to use ChatGPT.
This guy is the biggest gas lighter. I will believe my own lying eyes!
Can we please stop giving these people a platform?
Has he forgotten there’s an actual video recording of him telling fair that if she keeps the baby he’s gone? I rewatched their 16 and pregnant recently he’s trying to rewrite history.
Yup. And Tyler and Catelynn spent the last year or two trashing B&T. Not once or twice, but almost weekly.
I’m glad he seems to understand now, after 17 years, that B&T are indeed C’s parents. It isn’t joint custody and they arent owed contact or visits.
He needs to get off social media
Backtracking HARD on the hate for Carly’s parents. He finally figure out that he was pissing off the entire adoption community and most people weren’t on his side so he flip flopped? Such a loser.
Maybe we could be a little bit more on board with Tyler’s newfound attitude toward Brandon and Theresa if we had ever seen him respecting them and their rights as Carly’s legitimate parents during the many years between her adoption and just recently.
He does know we saw their 16 and Pregnant, right?!
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Oh all of a sudden Tyler is claiming that he cares about Carly’s parents feelings and doesn’t want people saying bad things??? LOL! LOL! Do he and Cate just want to pretend that the continual attacks and lies that they made on social media about the adoption and Carly’s parents didn’t happen? These two are such total trash! They flat out lie all the time, forgetting that we’ve all watched the show from day one and KNOW what was said and done! LOL! LOL! Just like Jenelle! Who also pretends that she NEVER said certain things or DID certain things!! Bunch of complete losers!!
Isn’t Carly about to be 18? Of course now they care about her feelings. They’re trying to manipulate her.
Yes, trying to get back in good favor.
First of all, it’s not a conspiracy theory. We saw it happen. Second, Carly is so much better off without you losers and your loser druggy families. Stop talking about her!