Summary
- Deon and Karen’s divorce announcement shocked viewers, showing how the stress of parenthood and lack of communication led to their split.
- Their parenting styles clashed over Darian’s college decisions, hinting at potential future disagreements as their children grow older.
- Deon’s inflexible neatness and decision-making caused friction with Karen, highlighting the breakdown in communication in their marriage.
Deon Derrico and Karen Derrico shocked viewers when they announced their surprise divorce, but cracks in their relationship have been visible throughout the family’s time on Doubling Down With The Derricos. The Derrico family has been on television since 2020, with season 5 premiering in spring 2024. As Deon and Karen struggled to balance the needs of their children against maintaining a healthy marriage, the disconnect between them was evident.
Deon and Karen were married in 2005. They gained notoriety for their natural conception of four sets of multiples, including twins, triplets, and quintuplets. Season 1 of Doubling Down With The Derricos covered the birth of the family’s youngest children, a set of premature triplets including one with heart problems. Deon and Karen have provided a supportive and loving home for their children, instilling strong family values while teaching them about everything from relationships to Black culture.
Juggling 14 Children And A Mother Battling Cancer Places A Tremendous Amount Of Stress On Deon And Karen
Deon And Karen Rarely Had Time To Focus On Their Marriage
The Derrico’s 14 children range in age from 4 to 18. Doubling Down With The Derricos has shown the unique challenges of having so many children, from schooling to transportation to health concerns. Karen homeschools the children, which places an additional burden on her. The family’s home was much too small, but they struggled to find a new home they could afford that would have enough space.
Despite the chaos of their household, Deon and Karen had expressed interest in continuing to expand their family. Karen ultimately sought therapy to help her identify why she felt the need to continue having more children. She realized she had unresolved grief over the death of the couple’s infant son, Carter, as well as multiple miscarriages. The understanding that having more children would not replace those she lost seemed to change Karen’s perspective on her need to keep getting pregnant.
The Derrico family also includes several members outside the immediate family of 16. Family friend Eric, for whom the Derricos held an honorary adoption ceremony, and nephew Amani, who was discovered to be the son of Deon’s late brother Chris, also make appearances on the show. But it is Deon’s mother, GG, who has had the largest presence. GG battled lung cancer for years, and on season 5 she made the decision to discontinue chemotherapy. Deon’s worry over his mother’s health contributed to his already-high stress level.
Deon Can Be Inflexible When It Comes To Housekeeping And Childcare
His Obsessive Neatness Causes Friction With Karen
Deon and Karen have an extremely close, loving relationship, but Deon is very particular about how their household is run. He is obsessive about cleanliness, even when it comes to unavoidable tasks like changing diapers. Deon teaches his children the importance of doing chores and keeping themselves clean, with tactics ranging from necessary to overbearing. He also insists on specific rules when the children are in public, such as dressing them alike and lining them up in birth order.
The family jokes about Deon’s rigidity, and in some ways his peculiarity helps the household run smoothly. But it also sometimes makes life more difficult for Karen. When she is attempting to manage 14 children, she does not need somebody telling her how to do it. Karen often rolls her eyes and acquiesces to Deon’s wishes, but it adds unnecessary stress to her already hectic life.
Deon Kept Karen In The Dark About The Family’s New Home
The House Dilemma Mirrored Deon And Karen’s Communication Problems
One of the biggest sources of stress for the Derrico family was their small home. The children were outgrowing shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and the living area was essentially contained to one room. Considering schooling was also based out of the home, as well as Karen’s clothing business, the space felt smaller as the children grew older.
Deon and Karen endured an exhaustive search for a new home that included many disappointments. So when Deon finally found a suitable home, he kept it a secret from Karen until the deal was finalized. It seemed questionable that Deon made such a major decision without involving his wife. The house needed extensive renovations, and Deon also tried to hide the delays and financial burden from Karen. What started as a kind gesture began to reveal a breakdown in communication.
When Deon finally showed Karen the current state of the house, she was disappointed by the lack of progress. Karen insisted that Deon needed to involve her in matters that affect the entire family, but he disagreed. Deon’s insistence on keeping Karen in the dark about the status of their family home shows the disconnect between the couple, as Deon did not trust Karen to help him carry his burden. This interaction displayed the ineffective communication that was plaguing Deon and Karen’s marriage.
Deon And Karen Argued Over Daughter Darian’s College Options
Their Parenting Styles May Diverge As Their Children Grow Older
Deon and Karen’s relationship hit another snag in Doubling Down With The Derricos season 5 as their daughter Darian explored her options for college. Karen encouraged Darian to apply for college in New York, while Deon preferred her to stay closer to their home in Las Vegas. Deon accused Karen of pressuring their daughter because moving away is what Karen would have wanted at Darian’s age.
Darian could feel the tension between her parents and did not know which path to pursue. Fortunately, GG reminded her that she had to make the decision for herself and not for her parents. As the Derrico children get older, Deon and Karen will continue to struggle with their opposing ideas about how to best support their entry to the real world.
Deon And Karen Announced They Had Divorced On June 15, 2024
The Couple Had Given No Hints About Marital Trouble Prior To The Shocking Announcement
Deon and Karen released a joint statement via People on June 15, 2024 revealing that they had divorced. Their divorce was filed on June 4 and finalized on June 6. Deon and Karen share custody of their 13 minor children. In their announcement, they voiced their intention to “remain unified in the parenting of our 14 beautiful children.”
The divorce announcement was shocking to viewers of Doubling Down With The Derricos, particularly the speed with which it was finalized. But despite the seemingly united appearance the couple has maintained, it is easy to see how the stress of raising a family and the lack of communication tore them apart. Deon and Karen appear confident in the finality of their decision, and hopefully they can each find peace as they move forward separately.
Source: People
