Katherine Ryan says her eldest is her favourite child because her other kids are ‘privileged nepobabies with a present dad and private education’
Katherine Ryan caused shockwaves by admitting she was ‘her favorite child’.
The 43-year-old funny woman has four children, Violet (17), Fred (3), Fenna (2) and Holland Juliette (9 months), from her previous relationship with her childhood sweetheart Bobby Koostra, whom she married in 2019.
Speaking on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast, Katherine shocked fans by admitting she prefers Violet to her other three children.
When asked why she felt this way, she explained that she saw her young children as ‘nepobabies’ because they grew up with the privileges of their success, such as private education, which Violet missed out on.
Additionally, the absence of Violet’s father, whom Katherine frequently discusses on her podcast Telling Everyone Everything and in her stand-up specials, was one of the factors pushing Violet up the list.
Speaking to Davina she said: ‘Violet is my favourite, she is my first born child. I think people don’t like it, they think it’s provocative…
Katherine Ryan caused shockwaves by admitting that her 17-year-old daughter Violet is her “favourite child” despite having three other children
The 43-year-old funnywoman has four children: Violet, 17, Fred, 3, Fenna, 2, and Holland Juliette, 9 months, from her previous relationship with childhood sweetheart Bobby Koostra, whom she married in 2019 (Photo of Violet, Fenna, and Fred last year).
‘I’m not worried this will hurt the other kids’ feelings because I’ll go, guess what nepobabies, Violet is my favourite. You go to a private school, you grow up with a father, it’s not fair, he’s my favorite…
‘So that kind of makes sense doesn’t it, they have privileges that he doesn’t.’
The comments sparked backlash from the podcast’s followers on Facebook, with one user writing: ‘Seriously – or maybe he’s joking (he’s in comedy from what I understand)… but if he’s serious – Good luck when they grow up…
‘Telling one of your children that he is your favorite person has a long-lasting impact on others…
‘Others will feel like they are not good enough and this will feed into their future relationships. The favorite will have more self-confidence but may also experience some level of guilt. Words can cut sharper than knives. (I still hope you’re joking).’
Another user expressed the same sentiments, writing: ‘I felt really sad listening to this. Nepo babies can still be deeply scarred and irreparably damaged by their Mother.
One agreeing viewer wrote: ‘Hmm, as a mother I don’t like this at all, even if it’s true. Things like this can be really emotionally damaging, and as their mother, it’s your job to protect them rather than tell them “life isn’t fair”…
‘You should definitely be worried about hurting your child’s feelings, mine weren’t either and I don’t talk to him at all anymore.’
Facebook users were divided in their reactions to the comments
She married Bobby in 2019 after a romance in her youth.
She shared sweet photos last October when she held her youngest in her arms
But some got Katherine’s point: ‘He is more protective of his eldest because he didn’t have a father in his life and they went on the journey together, whereas the younger children got the better version of him who had already achieved success.’
Last year Katherine shed light on Violet’s dealings with her father for the first time, saying: ‘I was really protective of my daughter when she was little; I would never say anything bad about him…
‘But now she’s 16 she can see with her own eyes that unfortunately he’s not a bad person, but he never made any sacrifices, he never paid anything for her, he just texted her which I think is breadcrumbs.’
About her experience of being a single mother, she continued: ‘Being a single mother is wonderful and rewarding and you know you can’t rely on anyone else, so do it and do it without resentment…
‘You don’t have another example of an adult not doing this, and you don’t have to consult anyone. You know exactly where you stand and you have this unique life experience.’
