Following the tragic news of the sudden passing of Ken Urker, the former fiancé of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, her ex-husband Ryan Anderson has spoken out to express his shock and condolences. During a recent appearance on The Sarah Fraser Show, Anderson reflected on the news, admitting that his initial reaction was one of disbelief.
"I didn't believe it at first," Anderson shared during the interview. "I was like, no. My initial thought was shock, like, 'Hmmm, how'd that happen?'"
Anderson noted that his thoughts immediately turned toward the well-being of his ex-wife and their young daughter, Aurora. "My immediate thought went to, 'How's Gypsy?'" he explained. "My immediate thought was, 'How's she doing, and what about their kid?'"
The history between the parties is well-documented; Blanchard married Anderson in 2022 while serving time for her role in the 2015 murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. The couple eventually separated four months after her release from prison in late 2023. Following their split, Blanchard reconciled with Urker, to whom she had previously been engaged in 2018. The couple welcomed their daughter in late 2024.
Despite a strained history with Urker, Anderson expressed genuine sympathy regarding the loss. "We never met in person, but we had exchanges on the phone, and we’ve had text messages," he said. "We’ve interacted, and they were never good. But you still hate to hear that somebody passed away."
Although Anderson confirmed he and Blanchard have not spoken in over a year, he revealed that he reached out to her father, Rod Blanchard, shortly after learning of the tragedy. "I said, ‘Hey, man, I’m hearing this news. If it’s true, tell Gypsy I’m sorry. Tell her I’m here for her if she needs me,’" he stated. "I was always somebody who could make her laugh when she was sad or give her comfort."
Looking ahead, Anderson emphasized that his primary concern remains for his ex-wife and her child. He indicated that he is open to providing support as a friend should she choose to reach out. Urker was discovered deceased in his Louisiana home on October 1, which would have marked his 34th birthday. Blanchard has stated that the cause of death appeared to be an overdose.