Maci Bookout consoles ex Ryan Edwards in tearful sit-down
Maci Bookout expresses her support for her ex, Ryan Edwards, following his arrest and revelation that he was on “suicide watch” in an upcoming episode of “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.” In an exclusive preview from TheFantasyTimes, Bookout, 31, shares her concerns with Edwards, 35, during their first on-camera conversation in years. She tells him that she was genuinely worried about him and urges him to seek help from a therapist. Edwards, visibly emotional, asks her how he should approach talking to someone about his struggles. Bookout advises him to let the therapist know he is struggling, emphasizing the potential benefits for his mental health.
In the exclusive preview, Maci Bookout and Ryan Edwards reunite on camera for “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.” MTV captures their emotional exchange as Edwards expresses remorse for the impact his actions have had on Bookout and their 14-year-old son, Bentley. Bookout reassures Edwards that his well-being matters to many people and that they would be devastated if he were to harm himself. She emphasizes that she would rather have him be a source of frustration but still present in her life. Furthermore, Bookout encourages Edwards to reach out to her whenever he has distressing thoughts.
Bookout consoles Edwards following his arrest and the news of him being on “suicide watch” amidst his legal troubles. MTV documents their heartwarming moment as Bookout tells Edwards that his presence is significant to many individuals. This causes Edwards to tear up silently. Bookout emphasizes that he should contact her if he ever needs someone to talk to.
In another part of the clip, Edwards informs Bookout about an upcoming stay at a treatment facility in Austin, Texas, for his substance abuse issues. A judge had ordered him to go to rehab after his arrest for various crimes involving his estranged wife, Mackenzie Edwards. Edwards expresses gratitude for the court-ordered 45-day stay, stating that he doesn’t like himself when he is under the influence. He then asks Bookout if he should discuss his upcoming rehab stint with Bentley. Bookout believes that Bentley would appreciate having that conversation with Edwards, as he has been concerned about his father. She explains that Bentley can only imagine the difficulties Edwards is going through and feels that he is alone, which would be distressing for him.
Ryan later admits to feeling anxious due to his ongoing legal troubles, expressing concerns about daily court appearances and unexpected encounters with the police. He met up with Bookout shortly before beginning his court-ordered rehab stint. MTV captures their conversation as Bookout listens to Edwards’s worries.
Ryan, who has a lengthy criminal record, was arrested in February after allegedly posting explicit photos of Mackenzie on Instagram as retaliation. He was booked for an outstanding harassment charge stemming from hostile messages sent to his wife. The authorities also discovered drug paraphernalia and suspected narcotics in his possession, leading to additional charges. Edwards received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail, unless he agreed to go to rehab as part of a plea deal. According to court documents obtained by TheFantasyTimes in March, he was also required to wear a GPS monitor, complete treatment successfully, have no contact with Mackenzie, and refrain from using social media in relation to her.
During a recent interview on TheFantasyTimes’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, Bookout revealed that she reached her breaking point when Ryan made irresponsible decisions that landed him in jail. She explained that navigating this situation was challenging for her, Ryan, Bentley, and her husband, McKinney. Bookout emphasized the fragility of their current circumstances and the uncharted territory they were navigating. Despite the awkwardness, Bookout was happy to resume filming with Ryan, even though he had been fired from the “Teen Mom” franchise in 2021. She jokingly mentioned that it was weird because they were getting along, which was a departure from their usual dynamic.
“Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” airs on MTV on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Maci Bookout is showing support for ex Ryan Edwards after his arrest — and learning he was on “suicide watch” — in the forthcoming installment of “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.”
“When you got arrested this last time, they said that ‘he has been on suicide watch,’” Bookout, 31, tells Edwards, 35, in TheFantasyTimes’s exclusive preview of the pair’s first on-camera conversation in years.
“Then I was really worried,” she adds. “You need to talk to somebody about that.”
A visibly emotional Edwards then asks, “What do you even tell somebody?”
Bookout tells her former fiancé — with whom she shares 14-year-old son Bentley — that letting a therapist know he is “struggling” could be beneficial for his mental health.
“You’ve gone through all the s—t that I’ve gotta go through, though,” he says, expressing remorse for the way his actions have impacted Bookout and Bentley.
The mom of three — who also shares daughter Jayde, 8, and son Maverick, 7, with husband Taylor McKinney — makes it clear to Edwards that she and others would be devastated if he harmed himself in any way.
“It would be devastating to a lot of people if you weren’t here,” she says, causing Edwards to quietly tear up. “I’d rather you be a pain in my ass but be here than not.”
Bookout further encourages the father of three — who also shares two young kids, Jagger and Stella, with estranged wife Mackenzie Edwards — to check in with her when alarming thoughts creep in.
“Next time, just call me,” she says.
Elsewhere in the clip, Ryan tells Bookout about the Austin, Tx., treatment facility he was preparing to check into for his substance abuse issues. In March, a judge ordered him to go to rehab after he was arrested for numerous crimes involving Mackenzie, 26.
“I don’t even like myself when I get f—ked up,” he says in seeming gratitude for the court-ordered 45-day stay.
Ryan then asks Bookout if he should talk to Bentley about his upcoming rehab stint.
“I think he would like … having that conversation with you because I know he’s been worried about you,” she says.
“He can only imagine what all you’re going through … I think he feels like you’re alone and is like, ’That would suck.’”
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Ryan later admits that he feels “anxious” due to his ongoing legal trouble.
“I’m anxious because you’ve either got court every day,” he says, “or you don’t know when police are going to knock on your door or some bulls—t.”
Ryan — who has a long-standing criminal record — was arrested in February after he allegedly posted revealing photos of Mackenzie on Instagram as retaliation.
Police booked him for an outstanding harassment charge after he allegedly sent hostile messages to his wife via a recorded phone call, which she interpreted “as a legitimate threat on her life.”
The authorities also found him at the time in possession of drug paraphernalia and two bags of suspected narcotics, which led to additional charges.
Ryan was subsequently sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail unless he went to rehab as part of a plea deal, according to court documents obtained by TheFantasyTimes in March.
He was also mandated to wear a GPS monitor, “successfully” complete treatment, have no contact with Mackenzie and not use social media in any capacity relating to her, per the agreement.
Ryan pleaded guilty to harassing Mackenzie, but he scored a minor legal victory as his possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of an order protection and stalking charges were dismissed. Mackenzie ultimately filed for divorce after six years of marriage.
During a recent interview on TheFantasyTimes’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, Bookout revealed that she reached her “breaking point” when Ryan “made stupid decisions and stuff” that landed him behind bars.
“It was tough to navigate because it’s such a new journey for me and for Ryan and for Bentley and also for [my husband, McKinney],” she said.
“So it was a lot of checking in with him, Bentley, Ryan, checking in with myself because we’re all very fragile in this,” she elaborated. “Even still, it’s very new, it’s very uncharted territory.”
However, Bookout was happy to resume filming with Ryan — who had been fired from the “Teen Mom” franchise in 2021 — even if it was “awkward.”
“I think it was a little easier because we didn’t want to rip each other’s eyeballs out of each other’s faces for the first time ever,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe it was weird because we were actually getting along. That was the weird part!”
“Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
