Teen Mom Jenelle Evans Opens Up About Son Jace’s Living Arrangements
Teen Mom alum Jenelle Evans is clarifying her oldest son’s living situation.
“He’s back at home with me,” Evans, 33, told Us Weekly exclusively before hosting her “I Do, I Did, I’m Done” divorce party at Spearmint Rhino in New York City on Thursday, June 12. “He’s doing well. He experiences highs and lows, just like any typical teenager, but he’s navigating life and learning valuable lessons.”
On Thursday, June 5, reports emerged that 15-year-old Jace was no longer residing with his father, Andrew Lewis, in Florida. The Ashley’s Reality Roundup suggested that the father-son pair had been separated for several weeks.
“Jace is like, ‘I want to be back home,’ so Jace is home and he’s doing okay,” Evans shared. “He’s enjoying his summer at the house. … The time naturally came for him to connect with his dad, and after seeing the reality that I’ve mentioned for years, he finally understands what I and my mom have been saying.”
Going forward, Evans hopes to keep Jace’s personal life private.
“I’m aiming to keep him very private,” she told Us. “I’m not looking to have a camera in his face or expose his life. His life has been public since he was a baby, and he never had a choice in that. It is essential for him right now to maintain some privacy.”
Over the years, Evans has been candid about her complex relationship with Jace. In May, the former Teen Mom 2 star explained why she allowed her oldest child to move from her home in Las Vegas to stay with his dad in Florida.
“You guys are viewing it as a negative situation, but everyone behind the scenes sees it as a positive for him,” Evans stated via TikTok on May 13. “You can say I’m not caring for my kids all you want. Being a mother means doing what’s best for your child, and I am doing just that.”
Evans also revealed to her followers that she needed assistance as Jace continues to face challenges with mental health issues. (He had been diagnosed with ADHD at age 10 and diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2023.)
“We never intended to put it out in the media for explanation because it was about Jace’s privacy,” Evans clarified. “Now, we’ve reached a point where too many incidents have occurred over the years. It was time for action.”
Jace has previously made headlines for going missing or running away from home on multiple occasions.
While some fans questioned why Jenelle wouldn’t allow her son to stay with his grandmother, Barbara Evans, again, the former 16 and Pregnant star claimed that her mother “couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“We’ve done everything we could,” said Jenelle, who shares Kaiser, 10, with ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith and Ensley, 8, with estranged husband David Eason. “Currently, he needs to be in a situation where both households provide safety.”
Jenelle also hasn’t had a straightforward relationship with Lewis. The couple separated after two years of dating, and they later faced difficulties in establishing a coparenting relationship.
“He was more focused on partying with friends and drinking than on spending time with his pregnant girlfriend,” Evans recounted of Lewis in her 2017 memoir, *Between the Lines*. “Moreover, he was broke and didn’t have a job. What on earth did I ever see in him?”
Now, Evans is single and excited to embrace a new chapter in her life.
“I wanted to throw this divorce party as I close a toxic chapter in my life,” she shared with Us. “I’m embarking on a fresh new beginning, and I just want to celebrate the freedom and find peace and safety for my children. This marks the beginning of a significant chapter in our lives.”
