Brody Jenner on Why Parents Caitlyn’s Transition Wasn’t ‘Real’

Brody Jenner opened up about his relationship with parent Caitlyn Jenner on the Wednesday, January 15, episode of Special Forces: The world’s toughest test. The MTV alum admitted that the former pro athlete was away a lot in his childhood.

“I would randomly see him—him at the time—here and there,” Brody recounted. “Mom would tell me to write on cards, ‘Why doesn’t Daddy call me on my birthday?’ and things that I don’t even really remember.”

In a confessional, Brody added: “I think not having Bruce around when she was growing up and she made that transition … it was tough just being her son. I just had a beautiful little daughter . I don’t live for myself anymore. Everything I do on this course will make me a better person.”

Despite their rocky past, Brody admitted that his relationship with Caitlyn is “better now” than it once was.

Later, during a meeting with the directors, Brody reiterated that his parent “wasn’t around that much” over the years. He also admitted that Caitlyn marrying Kris Jenner and starting a new family made him feel “a little bit left out.”

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“I would say he went through his own struggles,” Brody shared, referring to Caitlyn coming out as transgender and transitioning from male to female in 2015. “All of that was put on TV and there were very intimate moments , we wanted, and it was all filmed,” The hills alum admitted. “It just felt very invasive and not very real, I would say.”

Brody said it wasn’t until “recently” that he got a “real, sincere apology” from Caitlyn. “It was the first time in my life I’d ever gotten an apology,” he continued. “You know, ‘I’m sorry I’m not there.’ And honestly, that meant a lot.”

Although navigating Caitlyn’s transition in public was difficult, Brody said it was “kind of a relief” for him to learn the truth about his parentage. “I think there were a lot of things that started to make sense in my life about my dad and maybe why he wasn’t there all those years,” Brody concluded. “I think when you have kids you have to take some responsibility and the things you do are going to reflect on them as well. I think it’s really shaped me to do everything differently and really to be there and be present for my little girl.”

Brody’s fiancee, Tia Blancogave birth to their daughter, Honey, in July 2023, and he is now focused on his family above all else. “The TV stuff, my real true self was never shown,” he admitted, adding that he’s “always learning” about himself. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here,” Brody said. “I really feel like for my daughter I want to do the exact opposite as far as being there for her that my dad did for me.”

Special forcesWednesdays, 8/7c, Fox