Linda Thompson is offering Us insight into where her son Brody Jenner stands with his father, Caitlyn Jenner.
“He was absolutely right. [Caitlyn] was not there,” Thompson, 74, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Cure Addiction Now’s Inaugural Fundraising Evening at the Beverly Hills Hilton on Monday, February 24. “That’s when we knew [her, and she] was not there when Brody was growing up, or Brandon.”
Thompson and Caitlyn, 75, were married from 1981 to 1986, during which they welcomed sons Brandon, now 43, and Brody, now 41. Decades after they divorced, the former Olympian came out as transgender and changed her name to Caitlyn.
Brody, for his part, has long been candid about his estranged relationship with Caitlyn, which he also addressed during his recent stint on season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
Brody Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner’s Complicated Relationship Over the Years
“Brandon is the one who taught Brody how to ride a bike, throw a baseball and do all the things that a big brother will teach his little brother,” Thompson recalled on Monday. “But there were years that would go by when [Caitlyn] didn’t call them, didn’t see them, no ‘Happy Birthday,’ no ‘Merry Christmas’ [and] no, ‘You guys OK after the Northridge earthquake?’ Nothing.”
Thompson further noted that she recently spoke to Caitlyn about the past estrangement.
“I said, ‘You know, sometimes truth comes around to bite you in the butt. You have to be accountable for the things that you did and didn’t do as a parent,’” Thompson told Us. “I’m not so sure she’s as accountable as she should be. She’s a work in progress, but Brody and Brandon are very forgiving.”
She continued, “We all are, and Caitlyn comes to all family events and we all love her. We all wish her well. The truth hurts sometimes and she was not there.”
Brody Jenner Says He’s Received a ‘Real’ Apology From Caitlyn Jenner
Thompson and Caitlyn now frequently reunite as proud grandparents to Brandon and Brody’s respective children. While Brandon is a father of four, Brody welcomed his first baby, daughter Honey, with fiancée Tia Blanco in 2023.
“He’s an incredible daddy. They send me little videos of things that she does during the day, and she does this funny little side eye thing, and Brody’s always going, ‘Honey, give me a side eye and twirl for Daddy,’” Thompson gushed of Brody’s daughter. “She loves her daddy. He is absolutely putty in her hands, and he absolutely adores her.”
She concluded, “It’s been really wonderful to see his transformation from L.A. single guy to this Malibu dad. He’s just really settled down, and he met the perfect girl. Tia is just an exquisite human being. She’s so sweet, she’s pure, She’s got such a purity of soul and she’s an amazing mom.”
With reporting by Mike Vulpo
