From Scandalous Nuptials to Run-Ins with the Law: Unmasking Ryan and Mackenzie Edwards' Turbulent Journey as ‘Teen Mom OG’ Stars
Explore the tumultuous journey of former 'Teen Mom OG' stars Ryan and Mackenzie Edwards, from controversial weddings to arrests and more Witness their ups and downs as they navigate fame, love, and scandal
The drama persists even after the cameras stop rolling. Ryan Edwards and Mackenzie Edwards, former stars of Teen Mom OG, were let go from the show in 2021. However, controversy has continued to surround them since then.
Ryan became a part of the franchise in 2009, appearing on the first season of 16 and Pregnant as Maci Bookout's son Bentley's father. As their relationship quickly deteriorated, co-parenting became a challenge for the Tennessee natives. This difficult situation played out for years on MTV, and it only escalated when Ryan started struggling with substance abuse problems.
Ryan's addiction struggles had a profound impact not only on his relationship with Bentley and Maci but also on his relationship with Mackenzie, whom he met in 2016 and married a year later.
During Ryan's ongoing battle with rehab, the couple had two children of their own. However, their relationship came to an end in February 2023 when Ryan was arrested and charged with harassing Mackenzie. Throughout that year, he faced multiple arrests on various charges, including a DUI. Eventually, he pleaded guilty to harassing Mackenzie and was sentenced to almost a year in jail.
Despite their separation and Mackenzie filing for divorce seven months prior, the estranged couple was seen together in August, suggesting a possible reconciliation.
Keep scrolling to see all of Mackenzie and Ryan’s ups and downs through the years:
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
Former ‘Teen Mom OG’ Stars Ryan Edwards, Mackenzie Edwards’ Ups and Downs Through the Years: Controversial Weddings, Arrests and More
The drama persists even after the cameras stop rolling. Ryan Edwards and Mackenzie Edwards, former stars of Teen Mom OG, were let go from the show in 2021. However, controversy has continued to plague them since then.
Ryan became a part of the franchise in 2009, appearing on the first season of 16 and Pregnant as the father of Maci Bookout's son, Bentley. Their relationship quickly deteriorated, and co-parenting became a challenge for the Tennessee natives, which was documented on MTV. The situation worsened when Ryan started battling substance abuse problems.
Ryan's addiction issues not only affected his relationship with Bentley and Maci, but also had a significant impact on his romantic relationship with Mackenzie. They met in 2016 and got married a year later. Despite Ryan's intermittent stays in rehab, they managed to have two children together. However, their relationship came to an end in February 2023 when Ryan was arrested and charged with harassing Mackenzie. Throughout the year, he faced multiple arrests on various charges, including a DUI. Eventually, Ryan pleaded guilty to harassing Mackenzie and was sentenced to nearly 12 months in jail. Despite their separation and Mackenzie filing for divorce seven months prior, the estranged couple were seen spending time together in August.
Keep scrolling to see all of Mackenzie and Ryan’s ups and downs through the years:
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
May 2016
Mackenzie and Ryan first met while passing by each other as she was leaving a Chattanooga gym, the influencer wrote on her now-defunct blog, per E! News.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
December 2016
The pair got engaged during a dinner celebration, eight months after meeting.
Credit: MTV
March 2017
Ryan was arrested for heroin possession two months before tying the knot with Mackenzie.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
May 2017
Ryan and Mackenzie exchanged their vows amidst controversy and concern. Ryan exhibited signs of slurred speech, lack of focus while driving, and nodding off, causing worry. Mackenzie repeatedly questioned whether Ryan had consumed any anxiety medication on that day, which he adamantly denied.
Despite arriving at the wedding venue safely and pledging their vows, the occasion proved to be emotionally challenging for many, especially Ryan's mother, Jen, who couldn't help but break down in tears as she thought about Bentley's absence.
Credit: Youtube
June 2017
After the episode aired, Ryan exclusively told Us that he entered a treatment facility for his substance abuse issues.
"A little over a month ago, I voluntarily admitted myself into a rehabilitation center," he expressed to Us in the past. "I am currently back at home, thriving, and my life couldn't be more fulfilling. I owe my success in this journey to the unwavering support of my wife and parents. I sincerely appreciate all the kind wishes I have received."
Credit: Youtube
November 2017
Ryan and Mackenzie organized a second wedding after his first rehab experience, allowing their whole family, friends, and children to be present. Mackenzie shared with E! News that they had been planning this second reception since the day they got engaged, and she expressed that things were going well.
"Right now, everything is in a state of calm. Our focus lies entirely on our boys," she expressed to the outlet during that moment. "While today is indeed about us, it equally symbolizes the formation of our family."
Credit: MTV
March 2018
After revealing their shared news of expecting a child, Ryan found himself apprehended for probation breach related to his past accusation of heroin possession. Subsequently, he obtained temporary freedom by posting bail.
In the following weeks, a reliable insider informed Us about significant apprehensions regarding Ryan's ability to maintain sobriety. The source specifically emphasized that Ryan required a prolonged period of inpatient treatment, surpassing what he had received before.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
April 2018
One month later, a source exclusively told Us that Mackenzie was in “complete abject denial” about her husband’s addiction.
“Mackenzie's primary focus is solely on welcoming their baby, as if hoping this will serve as a catalyst for embracing a clean and sober lifestyle,” revealed the anonymous source to Us. “Ryan, like any addict, brushes off the severity of his drug addiction, and Mackenzie chooses to place her trust in his denials.”
Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
July 2018
Ryan was arrested again for heroin possession, though the charge was dismissed. This was Ryan's second arrest during Mackenzie's pregnancy with son Jagger.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
September 2018
Ryan entered rehab for a second time, Us confirmed.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
October 2018
Mackenzie delivered her son Jagger while Ryan, who was in rehab, witnessed the birth through a video chat. After successfully completing the program, Ryan returned home by the end of the month.
Credit: Hamilton County Jail
January 2019
Edwards was arrested for theft and heroin possession. (The possession charge stemmed from a previous warrant). He was released from jail in April 2019.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
January 2020
The couple became #GirlParents when daughter Stella was born.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
March 2021
Mackenzie explained that Maci's agent bypassed the Teen Mom OG producers and approached Viacom, the parent company. They wanted to highlight all of Maci's abilities and how she spends her time on the show, rather than focusing solely on one aspect. Mackenzie described it as an angry attempt to assert dominance, but acknowledged that ultimately, Maci is in control and the show belongs to her.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
March 2022
After the notorious MTV broadcast of Ryan's tumultuous journey to their wedding, Mackenzie finally admitted to her choice of marrying him that fateful day. "I was young, bewildered, and filled with apprehension, ultimately leading to a terrible decision. I am immensely grateful that nobody suffered any harm," she confessed to a devoted supporter. In addition, she disclosed, "We both found solace in our past, long ago."
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
January 2023
When Ryan accused Mackenzie of "laying with dogs" through her Instagram comments, it sparked a series of cheating allegations. In the comments section of a lovely photo featuring him and his wife, Ryan wrote, "I'm not proud of being married to someone who frequents bars and goes home with other guys [sic]. Tomorrow can't come soon enough! Don't you understand the consequences of laying with dogs? Look at who I'm talking to. And then she blames it on my addiction. Divorce is definitely the right decision."
Ryan not only commented on Mackenzie's post, but he also shared a meme on his own account titled "Cheaters & Cheating Quotes." The meme emphasized his loss of trust in someone, stating, "I trusted you but now your words hold no value for me, as your actions revealed the truth." Interestingly, both Ryan's comment on Mackenzie's post and his own post on his account appear to have been removed.
One day later, Mackenzie posted a mysterious quote on her Instagram Stories. The quote, accompanied by
, stated, "In the past, I cared about preserving my reputation in difficult circumstances, but now my main priority is safeguarding my inner tranquility. I am indifferent to what others may think."
Credit: MTV
February 2023
Weeks after accusing his wife of infidelity, Edwards took to Instagram to express his emotional desire to mend their relationship. He shared a poignant quote alongside a captivating black and white image of an elderly couple embracing, symbolizing his hopes of growing old together and overcoming their challenges.
Credit: Courtesy of Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
February 2023
One day after posting a quote that implied he wanted to reconcile with his wife, Ryan seemingly contradicted his intentions by engaging in slut-shaming directed at Mackenzie on Instagram. He shared an image, showing only the woman's neck down, seemingly depicting Mackenzie, accompanied by derogatory remarks including "spineless" and other offensive language. Fans swiftly rose to Mackenzie's defense, inundating Ryan's Instagram post with comments urging him to remove the upload and highlighting the potential impact on their children.
Credit: Courtesy of Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram ; Courtesy of Maci Bookout McKinney/Instagram
February 2023
After enduring Ryan's continuous online assaults towards his spouse, both Mackenzie and Ryan chose to remove any pictures of each other from their individual Instagram profiles.
Meanwhile, Bookout took to her Instagram Stories to share two captivating videos. The first video showcased Charlamagne Tha God engaging in a discussion about betrayal. The DJ expressed, "I have witnessed no man who has destroyed his family due to infidelity and remained unchanged. There is perpetually that remorse, that void."
The second video shared by the former cast member of 16 and Pregnant focused on the topic of trauma caused by "narcissistic abuse." It highlighted how individuals often experience hyper-vigilance and constantly feel as though they are in "flight or fight mode" due to this form of abuse.
Credit: MTV
February 2023
Following the pair's social media conflict, Ryan was apprehended for breaching a Restraining Order that Mackenzie had requested. During the process of being taken into custody, Ryan was discovered to possess drug paraphernalia and two bags containing substances suspected to be narcotics, as stated in documents obtained by Us at that particular time. The former MTV personality was formally charged with various offenses, which encompassed harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.
Credit: MTV
February 2023
In an obtained arrest affidavit, Ryan is accused of threatening Mackenzie during a phone call on February 8, just two days prior to his arrest. The former MTV personality allegedly mentioned that individuals he had recently met at a club would come to her workplace. On the call, Ryan reportedly stated, "You're about to experience something unpleasant." Mackenzie, on her end, recorded the conversation in two separate videos and shared them with the police, who determined that she genuinely felt endangered.
Credit: Courtesy Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
February 2023
According to documents obtained by Us, Mackenzie initiated the divorce process from Ryan on February 27. She was awarded temporary custody of their children and also obtained a restraining order.
Credit: Youtube
March 2023
On March 1, 2023, Ryan faced his second arrest within a span of two months. As disclosed by the Hamilton County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department, the ex-television personality was taken into custody for charges of stalking and breaching a protective order. It is worthy to note that this arrest occurred merely two days after Mackenzie initiated divorce proceedings.
One day later, court documents obtained by Us revealed text messages sent by Ryan to his estranged wife, in violation of the protection order imposed against him.
On February 19, he sent a message to Mackenzie saying, "I can't bear the thought of living without you! I'm sorry!" Four days later, he expressed, "I apologize and genuinely miss you, if that matters at all."
Credit: Youtube
March 2023
After his arrest, Ryan posted a mysterious quote on his Instagram account: "It is what it is." The straightforward black and white message has since been removed.
Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office/Splash News
April 2023
Ryan experienced his third apprehension within a span of two months on April 9. As per an arrest affidavit acquired by Us, he was arrested for the charge of possessing a controlled substance and driving under the influence (DUI) after being discovered "unconscious and unresponsive" while occupying the driver's seat of his truck.
Ryan, who was held in jail without bail, has been sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail after pleading guilty to the harassment charge, as confirmed by Us. His next court appearance is scheduled for June, where he will face charges related to possession and DUI.
Credit: Courtesy of Mackenzie Edwards/Instagram
May 2023
Mackenzie proclaimed her return on Instagram
"
Mack's back," she joyfully expressed along with a fresh selfie where she wore a bright smile. "I am truly grateful for all your kind messages! I've cherished and read as many of them as I could. Let's take on this journey together!"
One day before, on Mother's Day, she spoke about her "new chapter" in life.
"Sometimes you have to make it clear - I understand that I put up with that in the past, but it won't be acceptable for me in this new phase. Not now, not ever again," she expressed through her Instagram Story, according to In Touch.
Credit: The US Sun/ MEGA
August 2023
After seven months since starting the divorce proceedings, Ryan and Mackenzie were seen together outside the rehab facility and halfway house where Ryan has been staying following his release from jail.
Credit: Youtube (2)
October 2023
Following their photographed appearance at his treatment center in August, speculation arose among fans regarding a potential reconciliation between Ryan and Mackenzie. However, during the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter reunion, Ryan clarified that they are still on the path towards divorce, although he admits uncertainty about Mackenzie's current stance on the matter.
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During their meeting, Ryan's mother mentioned that her son had faced consequences due to his interaction with Mackenzie. Notably, both Ryan's parents and Bookout expressed their worries about Mackenzie potentially jeopardizing Ryan's recovery.
