Kayla Lochte uses her designer wedding photos to challenge Ryan Lochte's new memoir narrative.
The estranged wife of Ryan Lochte, Kayla Lochte, appears unwilling to concede control of the narrative in their contentious divorce proceedings.
In response to the announcement that Ryan, 41, plans to publish an intimate memoir, Kayla, 34, posted a nostalgic video from their 2018 wedding on Instagram on Thursday, December 11.
Accompanying the footage, she wrote a succinct caption: “Just going to leave this here,” which wryly introduced the clip. The video featured Ryan, clad in a beige Giorgio Verdi suit at the altar, delivering heartfelt vows to Kayla, who was wearing a Galia Lahav bridal gown.
“Your support during the Rio events demonstrated a love deeper than I could have ever conceived,” he stated to Kayla, who was seen wiping away tears with a tissue. He continued, “Those moments represented the most challenging period of my life, and I am daily grateful to have you lift me up. You sustained my efforts, motivated me to establish new objectives, and provided me with a purpose for existence.”
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During the ceremony, Ryan assured Kayla that he would consistently show respect, encourage her endeavors, share his emotions openly, and strive to be the finest husband and father possible.
He pledged, “Whether through small handwritten notes hidden away or an elaborate helicopter excursion to a mountain peak, I will continuously express my affection for you.” He concluded, “As we commence this new chapter today, I remain confident that regardless of the trials and triumphs we encounter, as long as we navigate this path together, with me guiding us, we will ultimately find our way home.”
The comment section filled with messages of support for Kayla. Christina Haack commented, writing, “You appear to have reversed aging, while he seems to be struggling, both visually and verbally. #karma.” Additionally, former Bachelor contestant Caroline Lunny added, “You exhibit true grace. Individuals with narcissistic tendencies frequently distort reality to portray themselves as victims and revise past events to absolve themselves of guilt for their deeds. It is fortunate that these beautiful memories exist for your children, ensuring they understand the reality of their loving beginnings.”
Ryan and Kayla, parents to three children — son Caiden Zane, 8, and daughters Liv Rae, 6, and Georgia June, 2 — publicly revealed their divorce in June, following Kayla’s initial filing in March.
Via Instagram, Kayla previously stated, “Following extensive contemplation and prayer earlier this year, I made the difficult choice to terminate my marriage.” She added, “I highly value the institution of marriage, which has made this period one of the most agonizing, insightful, and difficult phases of my existence. I delayed sharing this information until I reached a place of recovery, rather than speaking from recent, unhealed trauma.”
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She further explained, “Occasionally, we confront unexpected challenges that were not of our choosing. In those instances, we are compelled to make incredibly difficult decisions to safeguard our tranquility, our offspring, and our prospects. I have concluded that remaining in a situation is not necessarily the most loving choice one can make. For my part, leaving represented an act of affection, both for others and for myself.”
Subsequently, Kayla and the 12-time Olympic medalist have been engaged in a difficult divorce battle, with her asserting that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and requesting primary custody of their children.
Kayla has leveled allegations against Ryan, claiming he used illicit substances in the presence of their children. Her legal representative stated that his “recurrent irresponsible conduct demonstrates his unsuitability for shared parental responsibility, and granting it would cause harm to the minor children.”
Ryan, who claims sobriety and a history of rehabilitation treatment, confirmed to Us Weekly in September that he had used drugs within the residence, but disputed the assertion that he did so near the children.
He informed Us, “As previously stated this week, I experienced a downward spiral into depression following my 2023 car accident, which resulted in substance abuse.”
He added, “Everyone makes errors in judgment. We should not be characterized solely by these errors, but rather by how we learn from them and the effort invested in overcoming them. I sincerely apologize for causing pain or disappointment to anyone. My current focus is on my healing process, becoming the most effective father possible, and progressing in a manner that ensures my children remain secure, cared for, and cherished.”
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The couple faced a foreclosure lawsuit last month after failing to settle specific dues related to their Gainesville, Florida residence, which spans 2,838 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and holds an approximate value of $660,500.
In July, The Fletcher Park Owner’s Association placed a lien on Ryan and Kayla’s property, seeking $3,686 in outstanding charges. As this lien remained unresolved, the association initiated legal action. Ryan relocated from the residence after the separation.
(The association highlighted a separate lien against the property filed by the Internal Revenue Service. According to the document, obtained by Us, Ryan and Kayla allegedly owe $99,696 in outstanding taxes, broken down into $48,182 for 2021 and $51,513 for 2022.)
As previously reported by Us, the divorce between Ryan and Kayla remains pending finalization.
