Gary Owen is a well-known American stand-up comedian and actor who has earned a strong following, especially among African-American audiences. His breakout performances on BET and major comedy events, such as Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Comedy Jam Tour, have solidified his popularity.
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Instagram: @garyowencomedy
Upcoming Tour Dates:
- November 15 – 2024: Detroit, MI – Sound Board at Motor City
- November 16 – 2024: Hammond, IN – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
- November 24 – 2024: Morgantown, WV – Marriott Morgantown Waterfront Place
- Nov 29 – Dec 1 – 2024: Indianapolis, IN – Helium Comedy Club
- December 2 – 2024: Tacoma, WA – Nate Jackson’s Super Funny Comedy Club
About Gary Owen:
- Age: 50
- Date of Birth: July 26, 1974
- Spouse: Kenya Duke (married 2003–2021)
Visit GaryOwen.live for more details and tickets.
American comedian Gary Owen has opened up about his painful separation from his family and the complexities surrounding his divorce from his estranged wife, Kenya Duke. On August 23, during a revealing interview on The Breakfast Club podcast, the 48-year-old comedian admitted he hasn’t spoken to his children in over a year due to the family divide caused by the divorce.
Gary Owen’s Strained Relationship with His Children
In his candid discussion, Gary Owen described how his attempts to reconnect with his children have been unsuccessful. He shared, “I’ve taken every step. My daughter is enrolled at A&T, so I traveled to Greensboro to visit her. When I knocked on her door, she didn’t answer. I tried reaching out to her at the airport. I’m blocked on social media. I’ve used every way I know to reach out to my daughter, but I’m turned away every time.”
Owen also claimed that news outlets and social media informed his children about his divorce, rather than hearing it directly from him or Duke. He explained, “We kept it from the kids. We planned to do it together, but they found out through TMZ.”
Now, after a year of estrangement, Gary Owen decided to publicly share his side, hoping his children will hear his perspective. He told listeners on The Breakfast Club, “Everyone kept urging me to share my story. And to be completely honest, this is also an attempt to get my kids to listen.”
Inside Gary Owen and Kenya Duke’s Marriage and Family
Gary Owen and Kenya Duke married in 2003 and share three children: Emilio, Kennedy, and Austin. Emilio, their eldest at 31, is Kenya’s biological son from a previous relationship with Emilio Toliver Sr., while Kennedy and Austin, now 21 and 20, are the couple’s biological children.
In March 2021, Kenya Duke filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences in a filing with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. By June of the same year, Duke requested $44,000 per month in spousal support, claiming she had left her “promising position as an account manager” to support Gary Owen’s career.
Duke also asserted that Owen had not provided her with the agreed-upon monthly amount and sought a lump sum to cover two missed payments. In her court statement, she explained, “I’m asking that Gary continue the $44,000 monthly payments we’ve agreed upon for four years, plus a one-time payment of $88,000 for the two months he hasn’t paid.”
Kenya Duke’s Social Media Statements on Their Divorce
Kenya Duke took to social media to share her side of the story, alleging that Gary Owen had not fulfilled financial commitments to the family and had been unfaithful during their marriage. In a since-deleted Instagram post, she accused him of lying about supporting the family, even tagging him directly. According to the post shared by Hot New Whip Whop, she stated, “Stop lying about paying the mortgage.”
In her post, she also wrote, “Those ‘squatters’ you mention don’t live here. The only issue we have is a liar and narcissist who’s left the family. I’m doing my thing here. You aren’t fooling anyone. You are 48 and doing what you criticized your own father for doing in his 20s.”
Gary Owen Responds to Kenya’s Claims and Public Scrutiny
In June 2021, Gary Owen appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, addressing Duke’s accusations and his relationship with their children. While Owen stated that his attorney advised him not to comment, he hinted that the divorce had taken a “major twist,” saying, “It’s huge, but I can’t talk about it just yet. It’s changed the entire dynamic of the divorce.”
Owen also responded to media reports about his strained relationship with his children. He noted that his kids are now adults, which can naturally lead to less frequent visits. “When the news broke, my daughter was away at college. She’s working and living with Kenya. I’m on the road. We communicate through calls and texts,” he explained.
Owen denied being a “deadbeat parent,” a label Kenya used after accusing him of infidelity. He made it clear that he remains committed to his children, even as the family navigates the fallout of the divorce.
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