The drama continues — even when the cameras stop. Former Teen Mom OG stars Ryan Edwards and Mackenzie Edwards may have been fired from the show in 2021, but controversy has continued to follow the pair ever since.
Ryan joined the franchise in 2009 during the inaugural season of 16 and Pregnant, as the father of Maci Bookout’s son, Bentley. After the Tennessee natives’ romance quickly fizzled, the Things That Matter cofounder struggled to find a way to coparent with her ex — a difficult situation that played out for years on MTV and only grew worse when Ryan began to suffer from substance abuse issues.
Ryan’s addiction problems didn’t just affect his relationship with Bentley and Maci, however — it also deeply impacted his romance with Mackenzie, whom he met in 2016 and married one year later.
Avid Teen Mom viewers recall the harrowing season 7 finale, during which Ryan — who repeatedly nods off and can barely keep his eyes on the road — drives himself and Mackenzie to their first round of nuptials. Ryan’s mom, Jen, meanwhile, is sobbing because Bentley isn’t in attendance, as Ryan and Mackenzie want to keep the news of their nuptials as hush-hush as possible. While the two go through with the wedding, both Ryan and Mackenzie later recognized the errors of their ways.
“I was young, confused, nervous and made a very bad decision,” Mackenzie replied to a fan in March 2022 when asked how she could still go through with marrying Ryan when he was driving under the influence. “I’m so thankful no one was hurt.”
The influencer added: “We made peace with it a long time ago together.”
Ryan, for his part, exclusively told Us Weekly after the June 2017 airing of the episode that he “made the decision to check myself into a rehabilitation facility. I am back home now [and] doing well, and life could not be better. Without the support of my wife and parents I would not have been able to do this. Thank you all for your well wishes.”
Amid the turmoil — and Ryan’s addiction issues — the pair went on to have a second reception and soon after expanded their brood. Mackenzie, who shares son Hudson with ex-husband Zachary Stephens, welcomed son Jagger in October 2018 with Ryan, followed by the couple’s daughter, Stella, in January 2020.
One year later, the two were fired from Teen Mom OG not long Ryan’s dad, Larry, and Maci’s husband, Taylor McKinley, nearly came to blows over Ryan’s (apparent lack of) relationship with Bentley. Mackenzie claimed to Without A Crystal Ball in March 2021 that Maci was the mastermind behind the Edwards getting the boot.
“Maci’s agent went above [the Teen Mom OG producers’] heads and went to [parent company] Viacom and said that they wanted to focus on all of Maci’s abilities and whatever she does and that we took up the time on the show that she could be using to show all that,” Mackenzie said.
She added: “It’s just more of an angry, I’m gonna show you who’s boss-type of deal. The truth in the matter is, she calls the shots here,” Mackenzie said about Maci. “This is her show. It is what it is. It’s fine.”
While the Edwards family has been quick to point fingers at Maci once drama gets stirred up, Ryan stunned fans in January 2023 when he appeared to accuse his wife of cheating on him — by leaving her scathing comments on a photo of the two grinning happily at a concert.
“Take wife down off this I’m not proud of being married to someone that stays out in bars and goes home with others [sic] guys … tomorrow can’t get here fast enough!” the former reality star wrote in the comments on Mackenzie’s July 2022 Instagram post, which depicted her and Ryan smiling and cuddling up. “Don [sic] you know what happens when u lay with dogs? … wait look at who I’m talking to. And then blaming it on my addiction yea divorce is the right thing.”
Keep scrolling to see all of Mackenzie and Ryan’s ups and downs through the years:
Mackenzie and Ryan first met while passing by each other as she was leaving a Chattanooga gym, the influencer wrote on her now-defunct blog, per E! News. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
The pair got engaged during a dinner celebration, eight months after meeting. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
Ryan and Mackenzie initially exchanged vows amid controversy and concern, Ryan appeared to be slurring his words, not focusing on the road, and nodding off and he drove him and Mackenzie to their outdoor wedding. Mackenzie, for her part, kept questioning if Ryan had taken any anxiety medication that day, which he denied. Though the two got to the location safely and exchanged vows, the event was difficult for many — namely Ryan’s mom, Jen, who burst into tears when thinking about how Bentley wasn’t there. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
After the episode aired, Ryan exclusively told Us that he entered a treatment facility for his substance abuse issues. “A little over 30 days ago, I made the decision to check myself into a rehabilitation facility,” he shared with Us at the time. “I am back home now doing well, and life could not be better. Without the support of my wife and parents I would not have been able to do this. Thank you all for your well wishes.” Youtube
After Ryan’s first stint in rehab, the twosome held another wedding — one where all of their family, friends (and children) could attend. Mackenzie, who told E! News that their second reception had been “in the works since the day we got engaged,” that things were good. “Everything is just kind of at a resting place right now. It’s about our boys,” she told the outlet at the time. “This is a day about us, yes, but it’s also about us becoming a family.” Youtube
Nearly one year later, a source exclusively told Us that Mackenzie — who was then pregnant with their first child together — was in “complete abject denial” about her husband’s addiction. “Mackenzie only wants to focus on having his baby and seems to be hoping that this will help him to be inspired to live a clean and sober life,” the insider told Us. “Ryan denies the seriousness of the drug addiction, like any addict will do, and Mackenzie chooses to believe him.” Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
Ryan entered rehab for a second time, Us confirmed. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
Mackenzie gave birth to son Jagger. Ryan was able to watch the birth of his second son via video chat, as he was still in rehab. He completed the program and came home at the end of the month. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
The couple became #GirlParents when daughter Stella was born. Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
“Maci’s agent went above [the Teen Mom OG producers’] heads and went to [parent company] Viacom and said that they wanted to focus on all of Maci’s abilities and whatever she does and that we took up the time on the show that she could be using to show all that,” Mackenzie told Without a Crystal Ball at the time. She added: “It’s just more of an angry, I’m gonna show you who’s boss-type of deal. The truth in the matter is, she calls the shots here,” the former MTV personality said about Maci. “This is her show. It is what it is. It’s fine.” Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
Years after Ryan’s harrowing drive to their wedding aired on MTV, Mackenzie owned up to her decision to go through with marrying him that day. “I was young, confused, nervous and made a very bad decision. I’m so thankful no one was hurt,” she told a fan. She added: “We made peace with it a long time ago together.” Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
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