TLC star Deon Derrico broke his silence in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly after ex-wife Karen Derrico was arrested for threatening him and their 14 kids.
“I still love her as a mother of my children. But I do not like her at all. I don’t like what she’s done,” Deon, 54, told Us on Thursday, June 25. “I don’t like how the children are involved, they’re in the middle of it, and I’m forced to defend my position.”
He added, “I still have to maintain the presence of mind for my innocent children, ’cause no matter what, they’re innocent. When they’re fighting within, no one wins. No one wins. No matter who looks to have won, no one wins and that’s the part that’s most disturbing.”
Karen was recently arrested in Las Vegas and charged with harassment, violating a restraining order, preventing a witness from testifying through threat of violence and aggravated stalking.
She was arraigned on Tuesday, June 23, and pleaded not guilty. Karen’s attorney Jess Marchese confirmed that her client was released on a $2,000 bond and outfitted with an ankle monitor. Karen’s next hearing is set for August 6.
“She had done threatening things to me and things that made me question my life,” Deon told Us.
Deon claimed he told his mother earlier this year that if anything happened to him, they should “look at Karen.” He was still living with Karen at the time, but they had separate bedrooms. (Deon and Karen announced in June 2024 that they were getting divorced.)
“That’s the level of anger and hatred I was feeling from her,” he added, noting that their daughters were apparently concerned about Deon’s safety and would stay in his room.
Karen and Deon are the parents of Darian, 18, Derrick, 13, twins Denver and Dallas, 12, quintuplets Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten, 10, Diez and Dior, 6, and triplets Dawsyn, De’Aren and Dyver, 4.
Deon told Us that Karen filed a temporary protection order against him on April 14.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I’m not in love with her, and I’m not crazy, so I’m not stalking her. I’m not harassing her. I’m not doing any of those things.”
Karen’s TPO was dismissed, so Deon filed his own. Karen allegedly started sending Deon emails asking her to drop the request.
“I just ignored her emails, and then they kept getting more and more aggressive,” he claimed. “And she had already been threatening the children about killing them.”
Audio from a phone call between Karen and some of her kids was released by TMZ on Thursday, where Karen could be heard scolding, “Don’t ever do that again. Because you make me regret it. Don’t play with me.”
As for whether he’s concerned for Karen’s mental health, Deon told Us the entire situation is “unfortunate” for the family.
“I don’t want to do anything to provoke that, to poke the bear, so to speak,” he added. “I pray for her.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Karen and her attorney for comment.
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