Controlling Kris Jenner Destroyed Caitlyn's Life, Trans Star's Ex-Wife #2 Claims In Tell-All
Aug. 25 2016, Updated 11:28 p.m. ET
After actress, model and songwriter Linda Thompson divorced Caitlyn Jenner — then known as Bruce — in 1985, the Olympian was still a doting dad to their two young sons, Brandon and Brody. But after she met wife #3 Kris, their happy family life came crashing down. Linda, now 66, tells all about Kris' shocking scheme in her new book, A Little Thing Called Life.
After actress, model and songwriter Linda Thompson divorced Caitlyn Jenner — then known as Bruce — in 1985, the Olympian was still a doting dad to their two young sons, Brandon and Brody. But after she met wife #3 Kris, their happy family life came crashing down. Linda, now 66, tells all about Kris' shocking scheme in her new book, A Little Thing Called Life.
USA: Bruce Jenner
According to Linda, she and her husband split when Caitlyn, now 66, revealed her plans to transition into a woman. But they were still close, and Caitlyn often visited the children at Linda's new home with boyfriend and later husband, David Foster. "Once or twice a week, he stopped by to swim or play with the boys…Bruce was also invited to, and usually attended, every holiday celebration and kids' birthday party," she writes. "He always had his video recorder in hand, and he was very much in the mix at such events."
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In 1990, Caitlyn, then in mid-transition to becoming a woman, began dating Kris, now 60. A year later, the two decided to marry, and Caitlyn stopped the transition process. "I had high hopes for the blended family we were building and I saw the possibility for ongoing love and support for all of our children," Linda says.
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Immediately following the nuptials, Caitlyn stopped seeing his sons with Linda. "In the aftermath of their wedding, I assumed his distance was just due to the fact that he was busy," Linda recalls. "And then I tried to tell myself that he was caught up in his newfound happiness after so many years of loneliness."
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"However, in truth, the union marked a turning point during which periods of several years would go by without Bruce attempting to contact or visit his sons," she claims. "No birthday cards, or phone calls, no 'Merry Christmas,' no 'Everything okay?' after several Malibu wildfires threatened our home and safety. Having been present at almost all of the birthday parties and holidays in the five years between our separation and his marriage to Kris…Bruce was a noticeable absence now."
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His devastated children allegedly stopped asking about their father. "The disappointment in their sweet little faces when he let them down broke my heart even more than our divorce had," Linda writes.
INF – Bruce Jenner – FILE PHOTOS
After the wedding, Caitlyn "dismissed" not only Linda and his sons, but his entire team of publicists and managers. "Kris wanted to take control of his career and affairs," Linda claims. "To her credit, around this time Bruce did enjoy a resurgence in his career."
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She claims she can't entirely blame Kris for Bruce's failure as a father. "While I could not personally respect or love a man who didn't take care of all his children, the responsibility was always Bruce's," she explains.
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Occasionally, Brody and Brandon attended the annual Christmas Eve bash at Caitlyn and Kris' home—but it was all for show, Linda claims: "Sometimes they were invited, or pressured, into posing for the annual over-the-top Christmas card the Kardashian/Jenner clan was notorious for."
Kylie, Kendall, Brody, Kris, and Bruce Jenner at brother Brandons wedding in Hawaii.
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By 1996, Caitlyn "had fully descended into the Kardashian rabbit hole," Linda says. When she made her reality TV debut in Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Brandon and Brody were hurt to see their neglectful dad parenting other children.
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More fakery! Brody and Brandon were asked to "pretend" to babysit half sisters Kendall and Kylie on the series premiere of KUWTK, Linda says, adding that there was a "script."
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After Caitlyn finally separated from Kris in 2013, she began seeing Brandon and Brody much more often. Two years later, she told them she was finally planning to transition.
