Gypsy Rose Blanchard has launched a petition against “harassment and cyberbullying” in honor of the late Ken Urker.
Initial reports indicated that Blanchard, 35, sent ex-fiancé Urker, the 34-year-old father of her daughter, Aurora, a “Happy Birthday” text on October 1, but the message went unanswered. When Blanchard’s brother Dylan and his wife, Anita, arrived at Urker’s home in Raceland, Louisiana, for a planned birthday dinner later that night, the couple found him dead. Other reports claimed Urker was discovered by law enforcement during a welfare check after he hadn’t answered his phone and hadn’t gone to work.
On October 4, Blanchard shared a Change.org petition, which has already received more than 3,000 signatures, to “fight online harassment” after Urker reportedly dealt with an “overwhelming amount of online scrutiny.” This came after the My Time to Stand author fired back at her dead lover’s “disgusted” sister who never “approved” of them.
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Kenan’s Law, officially titled the Online Harassment Reporting and Accountability Act, is a proposed legislative petition launched by Blanchard.
“Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying across social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit,” Blanchard told People. “I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him.”
Blanchard continued, “And I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment.”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard petitioned Kenan’s Law, also known as the Online Harassment Reporting and Accountability Act, -Credit:Getty Images
The author of two memoirs, including Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, told the outlet that she contacted a lawyer from New Orleans to help her refine the anti-bullying proposal, despite not speaking to a committee at the time.
Blanchard also shared the link to the petition on social media that same day.
She wrote, “Before his passing, Ken experienced an overwhelming amount of online scrutiny and what we believed crossed the line into targeted harassment and cyberbullying. Reports were made across multiple platforms, and far too often, the response was: ‘No violation.’”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard claimed the late Ken Urker “experienced an overwhelming amount of online scrutiny” -Credit:Gypsy-Rose Blanchard/Instagram
“Ken’s passing has made me determined to turn pain into purpose,” she added and finished with, “I cannot change what happened, but I can advocate for a better system for the next person who feels like no one is listening.”
On October 1, Urker was found deceased and lying on his back. Deputies noted in their report that his face and arms were blue.
According to TMZ, deputies claimed they found syringes and a spoon next to a brown powdery substance in the bathroom. Another syringe, two shot glasses, and a holstered handgun were discovered on the nightstand. However, the report does not indicate that the gun had been fired or that it was used in Urker’s death.
Ken’s official cause of death has not been disclosed as toxicology reports are still pending.
