Gary Owen claims his estranged father fed ex-wife Kenya Duke ‘filth’ to use in their divorce

Comedian Gary Owen has opened up about his family struggles as husband, father and son, revealing what it’s like behind the scenes as a white comedian on the black comedy stage.

One of the traumas the “Think Like A Man” actor discusses in detail is his estranged relationship with his biological father. On “Club Shay Shay,” he described his dad as a racist who contacted his black ex-wife, Kenya Duke, only to feed her “dirt” concerning the funnyman during their highly publicized split.

After explaining that he was raised by his mother and stepfather, whom he claimed were abusive, he said he was terrified by the prospect of being the male figure in Duke’s household. Owen told host Shannon Sharpe that he thought he is likely to be repeating the behavior he saw as a baby.

Between his stepfather and his biological father, Owen felt stuck as he thought of his own masculinity in the sunshine of those male role models. He said the last time things went mistaken was with his father, who repeatedly let him down when he was a baby. As he became famous, his dad began “hanging out more often” and the 2 became closer. But then his father betrayed him once more in a much greater way than before.

Owen and Duke were married for nearly 18 years. Before either of them received official divorce papers, the “Ride Along” star recalled flying to his hometown of Cinncinati for a Reds game. He said he didn’t want to take seats in the stands because he didn’t want to be served in public.

– I actually have a representative who works for the Reds. He has an apartment for me, not in my name. I pay for it,” he said.

Owen says he invited five to six friends, but not his father. His dad came upon they were on the ballpark and attacked his son via voicemail and text message. The two eventually spoke on the phone, and Owen claims that in the course of the heated conversation, the 2 exchanged curse words and vowed to stay out of one another’s lives.

“He started calling my ex, with whom he wanted nothing to do. … (He) was on my side during the divorce… he started pouring out all his dirty laundry on me,” the “Daddy Day Care” star said.

He continued: “He posted it on his Facebook page. Then he posted an image of my ex-wife on Facebook and said, “I made an effort” to get back to that divorce. You have all the time been like a daughter to me. He doesn’t even like black people. It’s Trump Stump. I’m not saying he was on the Capitol, but he was on the monument. Now she wants to support a black woman.

After their divorce, Owen and Duke had minimal contact, having only met a number of times since their separation. The couple, who had been together for 23 years and married for nearly 18, finalized their divorce in March 2021 in California.

Owen revealed that he initiated divorce proceedings by filing in Ohio, while Duke filed in California, citing Owen’s infidelity, which he admitted to in the interview. “I have nothing to hide now,” he told Sharpe.

Their three children, Kennedy, Emilio and Austin, cut off all communication with Owen amid the tumultuous split. Duke claims that a month after filing, Owen stopped supporting them financially, publicly labeling him a loser father in a series of social media posts since their split.

The comic hasn’t seen the youngsters, who range in age from 16 to 22, for 3 years.

The current podcaster shared in the newest episode of his YouTube show “Get Some” that he met Duke on a flight from Atlanta to Cincinnati. He mentioned his upcoming appearance on “Club Shay Shay”, prompting her to ask him not to do it. Owen revealed his intention to proceed, but assured her that he would select his words fastidiously.

“She didn’t see me when she got on the plane. We go to baggage claim and he or she sees me. He comes over, we start talking, and after I ask how to solve this example with the kids? I keep telling her, ‘Look, once they call, I’m there,'” he said, before telling Duke, “I wish you’ll just say, ‘It’s time,’ because they really listen to you.”

Owen said he never physically or mentally abused his children, adding that he gave them a “wonderful childhood.”

“I don’t know how I became this bad person they don’t want to have anything to do with. Of course, I’m not perfect,” he said. “It’s been so long that I have to sneak out just to look at them.”

Gary Owen’s “Club Shay Shay” episode debuted Wednesday, May 8 on YouTube.