Teen Mom stars Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra are speaking out about a heartbreaking and unexpected rupture in their relationship with Brandon and Teresa Davis — the adoptive parents of their firstborn daughter, Carly.
It All Started With a Photo
The couple opened up during a recent episode of their podcast Cate & Ty: Break It Down, revealing that the fallout began after they shared a photo from their last visit with Carly nearly two years ago. Though the photo showed Carly from behind — a condition previously approved by her adoptive parents — Brandon and Teresa allegedly felt the post crossed a line.
Tyler said they were told they could post “the back of her head” only, but when multiple photos surfaced, even those not revealing her face, it led to significant tension. That disagreement spiraled into a total communication breakdown.
“They stopped replying. Then they blocked us from contacting them. We haven’t seen Carly since,” Tyler shared.
“It destroyed me,” Catelynn added. “I spiraled for weeks.”
A Full Cut-Off — And No More Gifts
What started as a debate about social media boundaries turned into a complete severing of contact. According to Catelynn, they are no longer allowed to send Carly birthday or holiday gifts. Despite their long-standing open adoption agreement, all efforts to stay in touch have been shut down.
Teresa reportedly told them she no longer wished to speak to Catelynn after a text she deemed “disrespectful,” a claim Catelynn denies.
Adoption PTSD and Lingering Regret
Catelynn admitted the fallout triggered deep emotional trauma — what she described as “adoption PTSD.” She said it forced her to revisit painful memories of placing Carly for adoption and made her question everything she once felt at peace with.
“I’ve done the therapy. I’ve put in the work. But this crushed me,” she said.
Tyler echoed the emotional toll and expressed regret about the adoption process, especially how much power they felt they relinquished after signing over their rights. He still believes it was the best choice for Carly at the time, given their financial and emotional instability — but now admits he wishes they had more clarity on long-term expectations.
“We don’t get to love our daughter openly — that’s what hurts,” Tyler confessed.
“We never gave up on Carly. We tried everything.”
The Limits of Open Adoption
Their story has ignited conversation online about the murky boundaries in open adoptions. While Brandon and Teresa have raised Carly in a private, structured environment, Catelynn and Tyler — who have remained public figures — are now feeling erased from their daughter’s life.
Despite the pain, the couple says they won’t be discussing Carly any further on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, out of respect for their daughter’s privacy and emotional wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a family dispute — it’s a revealing glimpse into the emotional and legal complexities of open adoption. What began as a photo has grown into a full-blown estrangement that’s left two biological parents grieving a daughter who’s still alive, but unreachable.
Catelynn and Tyler’s experience reminds us that even the most well-intentioned adoption plans can unravel in painful ways, especially when expectations, boundaries, and evolving emotional needs clash across two families tied by love, but divided by control.
As the couple waits in silence, the hope remains that Carly, now a teenager, may one day seek her own answers.
