Who Are Gary Owen's Children? Comedian Has Estranged Relationship With His Older Kids

Gary Owen is a father again.

In May 2024, the stand-up comedian shared the news that he'd quietly welcomed nine-month-old twins. During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast, Club Shay Shay, he shared that his new additions don’t have a relationship with his estranged children, Austin and Kennedy. He also spoke about the strained relationship with his ex-wife, Kenya Duke.

Below, we take a closer look at Gary's relationship with his children, his fiancée, and his ex-wife.

In July 2023, Gary welcomed twins Royal Blu and Rome Bohdi with his fiancée, Brianna Johnson.

Brianna shared the news of their engagement and pregnancy on Instagram. “Life recap over the past couple of months,” she captioned the February 2023 photo gallery. The pictures included Gary proposing to Brianna and ultrasound pictures.

The Daddy Day Care actor confirmed the news of the twins during his Club Shay Shay interview. “One's white, one's Black," he said. "One's got blue eyes ... the other one [has] brown eyes."

The tone of the conversation shifted when he was asked if he wanted to be a dad again. “That's a layered question," he explained before getting candid about the strained relationship with his older children, son Austin (born November 2000) and daughter Kennedy (born July 2002).

“Didn’t think I wanted to be a father again … not having a relationship with my [other] kids … you know …. I hate that thing of like ‘Imma do it right this time’ ’cause … I don’t think I did it wrong the first time,” he said.

Owen continued, “I was very conscious of how I spoke to them, how we disciplined them … that I never put them down. All the sports and stuff they played, I was the fun dad … I wouldn’t say I did it wrong but it’s two-fold … I think not having a relationship with my kids … it sucks too ’cause my kids, they don’t know [their new siblings]. They don’t have no relationship with them.”

Gary’s ex-wife is Kenya Duke. They were married for 18 years, from 2003 until 2021.

The former couple starred on their BET reality show The Gary Owen Show. The show followed the couple’s home lives with their kids, Austin and Kennedy. Gary was also a stepdad to Kenya’s son from a previous relationship.

During their marriage, Gary hosted several comedy specials and appeared in several films, such as Ride Along and Think Like a Man.

After news of their divorce was announced, it became clear that it wasn’t an amicable divorce. Kenya made since-deleted claims on social media that Gary had been having an affair.

"He doesn't financially support his wife. Although he has sent me zero money (from a company I help build) I am still paying his bills. You can have him, but you don’t have the money. NOPE!!! Lawyer up, you have now become a big part of this divorce," she wrote, per BET.

Gary fought back against these claims, alleging that Kenya turned their kids against him.

In November 2023, Gary shared that he hadn’t spoken to his eldest children for over three years.

Kenya has since publicly responded to some of the comments Gary made on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast.

"@garyowencomedy it has been 3 years. I am always kind and cool with you. I purposely, never make it awkward. I never bother you," she began.

She continued: "I have given you my suggestions on the situation but you don’t respect their boundaries. Which is why you discussed this again on social media. I don’t know what else to do to help you. Always wishing you well."

She also shared a screenshot of a note that read, “My growth is not feeling the need to address mistruths anymore. The grace and kindness, i have shown you, is the space to tell lies and false narratives for sympathy and attention without correcting."

It concluded: "You are a great storyteller … sometimes I get caught up in your versions.”