Brody Jenner is shedding light on the intricate dynamics of his relationship with his father, Caitlyn Jenner. During the January 15th episode of "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test," the 41-year-old former "The Hills" star unveiled that although his bond with Caitlyn, who transitioned in 2015, is "better now," their relationship was strained during his upbringing. "I'd catch fleeting glimpses of 'him' back then, here and there," he reminisced. "But my mom would tell me how I'd scribble on cards, 'Why doesn't dad call me on my birthday?'"
The reality TV personality, who also featured in "The Hills: New Beginnings," reflected on how this challenging dynamic with Caitlyn has influenced his perspective on fatherhood. In July 2023, he and his fiancée Tiarah "Tia" Blanco welcomed their daughter, Honey. "Having Bruce absent during my childhood and witnessing her transition made being her son difficult," he elaborated. "I've now got a beautiful little girl. I'm not living solely for myself anymore; I'm living for her." He then confided to his fellow recruits, "I believe it'll make me a better father."
After wowing the Directing Staff (DS) in consecutive challenges, he expanded on fostering a connection with his daughter, sharing, "I'll do the polar opposite of what my father did for me in terms of being present for her." While reminiscing about his own youth, Brody recounted, "I had an extraordinary mother. My father, Bruce at the time, wasn't around much. They divorced, and he later met another woman who also had kids. They had children together."
Caitlyn starred on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" from 2007 to 2021 alongside her then-wife Kris Jenner and their daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as well as Kris's children from her first marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr.: Kourtney Kardashian Barker, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Rob Kardashian. When quizzed about his feelings towards the famous family's former reality show, Brody admitted, "To be honest, I felt somewhat abandoned." However, he has since come to understand that his father was grappling with personal struggles during that period.
"I must say he was enduring his own challenges, transitioning, and all that was highlighted on TV. There were genuine moments we shared that were filmed, but it felt very intrusive and not very authentic," Brody recalled. "Recently, I received a heartfelt apology from Caitlyn. It was the first apology I'd ever received in my life. An apology for not being there, and it truly meant a lot."
A representative for Caitlyn told PEOPLE, "Caitlyn has a positive relationship with Brody and Tia," and declined to comment on their private conversations.
In a confessional on "Special Forces," Brody expressed, "When I learned that Caitlyn, or Bruce, wished to become Caitlyn, it was almost a relief. Many aspects of my father's life started to make sense, perhaps explaining his absence all those years." He added, "When you become a parent, you must embrace some responsibility that your actions will also reflect on your children. This experience has shaped me to approach everything differently, to truly be there, and be present for my little girl."
In a YouTube video chronicling his daughter's birth in 2023, Brody also pondered his relationship with Caitlyn, stating, "What I'm most excited about is doing things differently from how my father did. Growing up, I didn't enjoy the best relationship with Bruce back then." He clarified that Caitlyn "wasn't really around for me during my childhood. So, I'm determined to do the exact opposite, to be the absolute best father I can be, and I'm eagerly anticipating this journey."
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
