Love Is Blind star Tyler Francis is speaking out one day after his reality TV wife, Ashley Adionser, announced they decided to end their marriage.
"As many of you may have seen, Ashley has shared the news of our decision to end our marriage. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional process for both of us,” Tyler, 34, wrote in a lengthy message posted to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, January 23. “And it is one we have approached with great care and respect for one another.”
"While our journey together began with so much hope and love, we came to realize that there were challenges we could not overcome," he continued. "I take full accountability for my role in the difficulties we faced, and I respect Ashley's decision to move forward in a way that prioritizes her peace and happiness."
Tyler, who met Ashley, 32, in the pods during season 7 of Love Is Blind, called her an “incredible woman” and told his followers that he had “nothing but admiration and gratitude for the love and support” she had given him.
“I ask for kindness and understanding as we both move forward separately, focusing on healing and growth,” he concluded. “Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey.”
Ashley revealed she had been “separated for several weeks” from the nuclear security officer before deciding to end their marriage on Wednesday, January 22.
“While I had hoped for mutual understanding and transparency in our relationship, it has become clear that our paths are no longer aligned, making it impossible for me to continue in this marriage,” she told People in a statement. “This was not a decision I made lightly, but one I know is necessary for my own growth and peace. While this chapter is ending, I will always hold respect for the time and love we shared. I kindly ask for privacy during this deeply personal time as I focus on healing and building a new future. Thank you for your understanding and support."
After getting engaged sight unseen, fans watched Tyler and Ashley make it down the aisle in the season 7 finale, which aired on Netflix in October 2024. Although there were clearly sparks between the couple, Ashley learned Tyler had fathered three children with a friend only two weeks before their wedding day.
Tyler told his then-fiancée that he was a “sperm donor,” and opened up about being the biological father to two girls and a boy during episode 9.
“I’m not upset by you trying to help a couple have kids. I think that’s admirable in certain ways, but the issue comes in with me feeling like I was not getting the full picture of you,” Ashley replied. “Once you’re not given the full picture of something, it’s hard not to question everything. Me being a single woman before this, to come into this scenario and fall in love with a guy who has three sperm babies, sperm-donor babies, is a lot to absorb.”
However, things got messy when the children’s mother, Bri Thomas, disputed Tyler’s version of the story as the show was airing in an Instagram post on October 10, 2024.
“Yes, I am the mother of Tyler’s three children. I’m trying really hard to do this the right way, but I have no understanding why he would characterize his relationship with his children as he has,” she wrote. “I guess I have to speak on this, despite trying so hard not to. ‘Sperm babies’ they are not.”
According to Bri, her son was conceived via sperm donation from the Love Is Blind star while she was in another relationship. However, following her divorce, she and Tyler conceived their two younger daughters as a result of “natural unplanned intercourse with absolutely no complexity surrounding parentage.”
Tyler addressed the drama surrounding the paternity of his children during the season 7 reunion episode.
“Those kids, that family, they did not sign up for this. So, what is happening now is I try to keep that from happening. Their birth certificates are online. Things that shouldn’t be happening are now happening,” the account manager stated in October 2024. “And to get into the story, I did help a friend and her wife start a family, but her wife ended up leaving her and left her high and dry.”
He continued, “This was my very close friend. So I stepped in, voluntarily stepped in and helped. So there is pictures of me around. You’ll see me around. I’ve spent holidays with all my friends, you know, all their kids. And I played a part that became very shaky with a friend.”
