It took five years, but Jenelle Evans is finally making her reality TV comeback on the upcoming second season of “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.”
The former castmate will officially return to the MTV series as a special guest. This fantastic opportunity seemingly stemmed from the end of her relationship with her now-estranged husband, David Eason.
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MTV Rehires Jenelle Evans Amid Separation From David Eason
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The “16 and Pregnant” alum, who is currently locked in a custody battle with her ex, made a splashy appearance in the preview of the upcoming “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” show.
She is seen walking in a tan pantsuit before teasing viewers about her return by saying: “I think it’ll be good to have a fresh start.” As stated, Evans is embracing a new chapter in her life following the end of her longtime relationship with Eason.
MTV presumably celebrated Evans’ newfound single status by giving her a second chance on “Teen Moms” since her ex reportedly influenced their decision to fire her in 2019.
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At the time, Evans’ ties to the network were severed after her now-estranged husband shot and killed their family dog. A year before the tragic event, MTV kicked Eason off their program after he posted a barrage of homophobic and transphobic tweets, per PageSix.
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Evans Will Not Return As A Full-time Castmate
A week before her comeback was confirmed, Evans sparked speculations of a “Teen Mom” reprisal after reuniting with a former castmate. She was spotted hanging out with Briana Dejesus’ home in Florida.
The pair were photographed walking together while wearing casual ensembles amid production for the upcoming show. However, fans can kiss their dreams of seeing Evans as a full-time castmate.
According to a press release from MTV, Evans isn’t reprising her former spot in the next “Teen Mom” installment. Instead, she will make a “special appearance” to address the latest chapter of her life.
Her time on the show will reportedly focus on unpacking the early stages of her separation from Eason as she makes “life-changing” decisions.
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The TV Personality Announced Her Separation In March
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Two months before her “Teen Mom” comeback, Evans revealed in a TikTok post that she had filed for legal separation from Eason. The video, set to Lady Gaga’s hit “Applause,” saw her lip-syncing to the track before bowing to the camera.
The overlay text read: “Can I get some appreciation? I filed for separation.” She doubled down on her newfound single status in the post’s caption, writing: “New Chapter Unlocked.”
It is unclear if her message teased her appearance in the upcoming “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” or if it referenced the end of her marriage to Eason.
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As for why she filed for legal separation instead of a full-blown divorce, Evans explained her choice in a follow-up post. The 32-year-old noted that couples in North Carolina must be legally separated for a year and have two separate addresses before proceedings can begin.
The Mother-Of-Three Wants Full Custody Of The Couple’s Daughter
Following her legal separation from Eason, The Blast reported that Evans had moved to obtain full custody of the duo’s daughter, Ensley. In her court documents, the reality TV star stressed that her estranged husband wasn’t fit to be a dad.
She argued that he has repeatedly failed to prove himself as a good dad, while she has been solely responsible for catering to their daughter’s needs. The documents stressed that Evans “is a fit and proper person to have primary physical custody of the minor child,” adding:
“At nearly all times, plaintiff has been responsible for the minor child’s daily needs and has been the only parent who researched, evaluated, selected and followed through with the minor child’s doctor’s treatment providers, extracurricular and enrichment activities.”
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Janelle Evans Pushed For Eason’s Submission To Mental Health Tests
Aside from bashing her estranged husband as a bad father, Evans implied that he shouldn’t be around their daughter without proof of his mental stability.
“It is in the best interest of the minor child that plaintiff be granted primary physical custody of the minor child,” the documents reiterated, adding:
“and that defendant’s visitation and or custodial time be predicated on a mental health assessment to ensure his fitness and ability to care for the minor child.”
Additionally, Evans noted that she was pushing for mental health checks because of her Eason dark past. She claimed he had a “history of erratic behavior” and “substance abuse,” which hindered his ability to parent their daughter.