NEED TO KNOW
Comedian Gary Owen reunited with his ex-wife, Kenya Duke, for the first time in six years
The former couple’s son, Austin, shared a photo of himself posing with his parents and wrote, “Got my parents back together for the first time in 6 years”
Duke filed for divorce from Owen in 2021 after nearly 18 years of marriage
Comedian Gary Owen reunited with his ex-wife, Kenya Duke, for the first time in six years.
The former couple’s son, Austin, shared a photo on Instagram of himself posing with his parents on Saturday, July 25. Owen, 51, and Duke smiled as they stood next to their 25-year-old son in a room filled with balloons, seemingly for a celebration.
“Got my parents back together for the first time in 6 years. God is good,” he wrote in the caption.
Austin’s post also included a throwback snapshot of his parents that showed them sitting together on a couch. A baby Austin played on his dad’s lap.
Throwback photo of Gary Owen and Kenya Duke with their son Austin
Credit: Gary Owen/Instagram
Owen commented on his son’s post, writing, “It was nice hanging out and catching up.”
He also shared two photos of his time with Austin and Duke on his own Instagram, writing: “Got to spend some quality time with @aust1n0wen & @trulykenya yesterday. Even with all the craziness the past 5 plus years we did have a lot of good times together. Figured we might as well do a picture of now and a picture from 5 years ago 😂😂😂😂.”
The second photo shows the two exes playfully making screaming faces and doing claw gestures with their hands as Austin held them back from each other with his arms.
Gary Owen and Kenya Duke with son Austin
Credit: Gary Owen/Instagram
Owen and Duke wed in 2003. Duke filed for divorce in 2021 after nearly 18 years of marriage. In addition to Austin, they share a daughter, Kennedy. Duke is also a mother to son Emilio from a previous relationship.
Owen married current wife Brianna Johnson on March 7. The couple shares twin sons Royal and Rome, born in July 2023.
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In 2024, Owen discussed his divorce from Duke during an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast, hosted by Shannon Sharpe. At the time, he revealed that he had not seen his older kids in three and a half years.
“It’s a nightmare,” he said. “It’s like, they’re my greatest accomplishments and my greatest failure at the same time. But to see how it’s just crashed and burned since a divorce — and this is all since a divorce.”
Kenya Duke and Gary Owen in 2016
Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Getty
Asked by Sharpe if he believed Duke played a role in “the divide” with his kids, Owen replied, “I’ll say I’ll take the blame ’cause I didn’t ensure that my relationship with them was so strong that no matter what anybody said to them they could be like, ‘No, my dad’s good.’ “
Owen admitted that he was “gone a lot” during their childhood because he was “on the road” for his comedy career.
“At this point, I don’t know how to reconcile the relationship,” he said. “I’m just letting them know that I love them, I’m proud of them, and whenever they call, I’m there.”
After the episode aired, Duke addressed her ex-husband’s comments in a post on Instagram.
“@garyowencomedy it has been 3 years,” she wrote. “I am always kind and cool with you. I purposely, never make it awkward. I never bother you. I have given you my suggestions on the situation but you don’t respect their boundaries. Which is why you discussed this again on social media.”
“I don’t know what else to do to help you,” she continued. “Always wishing you well.”
Duke’s post also included a photo of a message she tagged the comedian in.
“My growth is not feeling the need to address mistruths anymore,” the message read. “The grace and kindness, I have shown you, is the space to tell lies and false narratives for sympathy and attention without correcting. You are a great storyteller… sometimes I get caught up in your versions.”
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