Could the Derricos Face a Double Whammy Divorce and Show Cancellation? Fans Are Concerned
When parents of 14 children divorce, there’s enough to worry about. But most importantly, will 'DDWTD' continue?
Published June 19 2024, 8:12 p.m. ET
One of TLC’s favorite couples, Karen and Deon Derrico, shocked fans by announcing they have gotten divorced. The news hit fans hard as they speculated what could have happened between Karen and Deon. The Derrico family rose to fame in their series, Doubling Down With the Derricos, which chronicles their everyday life raising their 14 children.
With multiple sets of twins and triplets, the Derricos have become synonymous with “breeding,” a practice in which people try to have as many children as humanly possible. But now that they’re divorced, that part of DDWTD is sure to change. Some fans are worried that the show will get canceled altogether.
‘Doubling Down with the Derricos’ hasn’t been canceled yet, but it could be.
As of June 2024, we don’t have details on whether Doubling Down With the Derricos will continue past Season 5, which is airing through the summer. In the June 18 episode, Deon even said, “But it's like our reality is, no matter what we can get through it. I cannot do this without you.” So it seems like a lot has changed between the taping of that episode and now. While fans are just finding out about the Derricos’ divorce, they have gone through all the paperwork already.
This means that the divorce is finalized, and Doubling Down With the Derricos’ fate is up in the air. While the added tension between Deon and Karen has been a major storyline throughout Season 5, adding a divorce into the mix could add even more entertainment for those watching at home.
Not only do Karen and Deon have to manage caring for 14 children, now they have to figure out how to co-parent, manage finances and child support, and more. According to reports, they plan to split physical and legal custody of their children. Deon will pay $1,166 per month in child support because Karen bears responsibility for the kids’ medical insurance, according to documents obtained by TMZ.
If TLC decides to keep Doubling Down With the Derricos, viewers might enjoy watching how Karen, Deon, and the kids balance and adjust to this new lifestyle. Lots of marriages end in divorce, so there are likely many parents and kids out there who can relate to this new modern family, and it might be refreshing to see how this plays out on reality television.
However, this could also be a good opportunity for TLC to cancel one of its lower-rated shows. In The TV Ratings Guide, Season 5 is ranked at 49 out of the Top 50 cable shows in the 18–49 demographic. With at least two other shows higher in the ranking, TLC may have other priorities and could use this shift in the Derricos’ relationship as an opportunity to cancel the show.
On the other hand, some viewers speculate that they’re using the divorce to bolster ratings and pad their finances. They allege that the Derricos have had multiple bankruptcies over the years, and divorce could help them out somehow by splitting their incomes and putting them in a lower tax bracket. Whatever the reason for the divorce, fans are hoping they’ll get to see how it plays out on camera.