Tyler Baltierra and Catelynn Lowell’s latest update on daughter Carly has led to some new perspectives.
On the Thursday, May 22, episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Dr. Drew Pinsky had a virtual meeting with the couple to recall a private conversation he had with Carly’s adoptive parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis.
“I can tell you what was expressed to me about Carly,” he shared on the MTV reality show’s season finale. “Brandon said she is thriving and she has friends and she’s athletic and musical and she’s doing all these wonderful things.”
Catelynn tried to hold back tears as she wondered why Dr. Drew was sharing the update and not Carly’s adoptive parents.
“Well thanks for keeping that beautiful girl away from me,” she said while getting visibly emotional.
Dr. Drew replied, “I don’t think that’s the intent. I understand that’s how it feels. I know you. I know how tough this is. I get it.”
In 2009, Tyler and Catelynn — who also share Nova, 10, Vaeda, 6, and Rya, 3, — placed their newborn daughter Carly, now 16, for adoption. What started as an open adoption changed over time with Brandon and Teresa limiting in-person visits between Carly and her birth parents.
“In terms of being unblocked and a visit, I don’t see that not happening, frankly,” Dr. Drew shared. “You got to go through the baby steps. But you are encouraged to send gifts on Christmas, birthdays and when gifts are completely appropriate.”
While Tyler expressed his belief that it’s “weird” to be getting this information from someone other than Brandon and Teresa, Dr. Drew explained that no situation is perfect.
“What Teresa kept saying is she absolutely wants what you want and wants to maintain a relationship, but she feels like she needs a reset and for everybody to calm down and let all the negativity [settle],” he said. “[Carly] sings in church. She’s quite an accomplished singer and they recorded a song of hers. I would love to listen with you because it’s so moving. It does feel like Carly is sending a message of, ‘I’m good.’ Do you guys want to hear it?”
Citing her mental health, Catelynn said she wanted to listen in private. According to MTV, when she asked for the link to hear the performance, Brandon and Teresa denied the request.
Us Weekly has reached out to Brandon and Teresa for comment.
In a joint statement on social media, both Carly and Tyler promised to not speak about Carly, Brandon and Teresa publicly moving forward.
“Birthparents are always at the mercy of the adopters (which is understandable since we’re the ones who relinquished our baby to them) but that still doesn’t make it any less hard or painful,” Tyler and Catelynn wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “As I’ve stated before, we won’t be mentioning our biological daughter or her parents anymore & that’s why we’re actually relieved that this episode is airing, so that way we can all just finally move forward.”
In addition, both Catelynn and Tyler apologized if past comments on Teen Mom or other platforms had a negative impact.
“We are incredibly sorry if anything we have said about our truth as birthparents has hurt you or Carly or negatively impacted your life. That was never our intention,” the pair said in a letter to Brandon and Teresa. “We’re the adults here & it’s our job to put everything aside for the best interest of Carly. Which requires open, honest & transparent communication. So we hope moving forward, you will participate in that requirement.”
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs on MTV Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
