Brody Jenner felt “abandoned” by his father, Caitlyn Jenner, when he was younger but their relationship is “better” now.
Brody Jenner felt “abandoned” by his father, Caitlyn Jenner, when he was younger.
The 41-year-old star stressed his relationship with his parent is “better now” and he recently received a “sincere apology” from the former Olympian – who was known as Bruce Jenner before transitioning in 2015 – for their fractured relationship over the years.
Appearing on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’, Brody, whose mother is Linday Thompson, said: “I’d randomly see him — ‘him’ at the time — you know, here and there.
“But, mom would tell me that I would write on cards, ‘Why doesn’t dad call me on my birthday?’ “
He also said: “I had an incredible mother. Father, Bruce, at the time, wasn’t around that much. They split, and then he met a woman [Kris Jenner]. She had kids as well. The woman that he met … they had kids together.”
The former ‘Hills’ star was then asked how he felt about the family’s reality show, ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ and said: “To be honest, a little bit abandoned.
“I will say he was going through his own struggles, transitioning, and it was all that was put on TV, and there were these moments that we would have that was all filmed, and it just felt very invasive and not very genuine, I would say.
“Just recently, I got a real, sincere apology. “It was the first time in my life that I’ve ever gotten an apology. You know, I’m sorry for not being there, and honestly, it meant a lot.”
Brody – who has 17-month-old daughter Honey with fiancee Tia Blanco – admitted his own experiences has made him determined to be a “better” father to his own daughter.
He said: “I think not having Bruce around growing up and her doing that transition, it was tough just being her son.
“I just had a beautiful little daughter. I’m not living for myself anymore. I’m living for her.
“I think it’s gonna make me a better father.”
He later added: “I’m gonna do the exact opposite of, as far as being there for her, as my father did for me.”
In a confessional on the programme, the ‘Hills: New Beginnings’ star told of how he felt “relief” when he learned of his father’s plans to transition.
He said: “When I found out that Caitlyn, or Bruce, wanted to be Caitlyn, it was sort of a relief. I think that there were a lot of things that started to make sense, you know, just in my life, about my father, and maybe why he wasn’t there all those years.
“And I think when you have kids, you need to accept a little bit of responsibility that the things you do are also going to reflect on them as well. I think it really has shaped me to do everything different and to really be there and to be present to my little girl.”
A spokesperson for the 75-year-old star told People magazine: “Caitlyn has a positive relationship with Brody and Tia.”
Brody Jenner felt ‘abandoned’ by dad Caitlyn Jenner
