‘Little People, Big World’ star announces split: ‘Tough news to share’
There hasn’t been any official announcement whether the Oregon-filmed reality series “Little People, Big World” will return for another season on TLC, but one element of the show is officially over.
In a post on Instagram, Matt Roloff wrote that he had “tough news to share,” namely that he and fiancee Caryn Chandler have decided to “part ways” and end their engagement.
“Life’s a continued journey,” Roloff wrote, “and this is the right step for us at this time. We remain amicable and will always appreciate the many wonderful memories we have shared.”
Roloff also wrote, “Your support means the world to me and I’m committed to moving forward with positivity and trust in the path ahead.”
Since it premiered on TLC in 2006, “Little People, Big World” has chronicled the ups and downs of the Roloff family, including Matt, his former wife, Amy, and their children.
Over the seasons, fans have seen Matt and Amy Roloff get divorced, tensions arising between family members, and Matt Roloff announcing that he was putting the family’s Helvetia area farm on the market with a listing price of $2,895,000.
A special that aired 2021 focused on events leading up to Amy Roloff getting married again, to Chris Marek.
As Parade reports, Matt Roloff and Caryn Chandler began dating in 2017, and the couple got engaged in April 2023, when Roloff “popped the question in the backyard of their shared Arizona home.”
Matt Roloff is out in the big world on his own again.
Two years after the Little People, Big World patriarch announced his engagement to Caryn Chandler, he shared that the couple have ended their romance.
“Hi everyone I have some tough news to share,” Matt—dad to twins Zach Roloff and Jeremy Roloff, both 35, Molly Roloff, 32, and Jacob Roloff, 28, with ex Amy Roloff—wrote in a July 22 Instagram post. “Caryn and I have decided to part ways and end our engagement. Life’s a continued journey and this is the right step for us at this time.”
Matt also noted that he and his former fiancée ended their relationship on good terms.
“We remain amicable and will always appreciate the many wonderful memories we have shared,” he continued. “Your support means the world to me and I’m committed to moving forward with positivity and trust in the path ahead. Much love to all.”
The TLC star last shared a life update including Caryn, whom he started dating in 2017, back in April and has otherwise been promoting the sale of the Roloff family farm in Oregon on social media since.
“Raced from the farm in Oregon down to our Arizona place just in time to catch another open air concert in the desert,” Matt wrote in the April 27 Instagram post, alongside a selfie with Caryn. “So fun and very lively hanging out with people enjoying life to the fullest.”
And for a while that included a life alongside Caryn. After opening up about their former relationship in 2017, the pair announced they were engaged and planning a wedding for 2024.
“I asked Caryn to marry me and she said yes!” Matt told People in 2023 while confirming their engagement. “Our plan is to enjoy our engagement and we are looking forward to a simple but elegant wedding.”
Matt Roloff/InstagramBut while Matt and Caryn came forward with their romance in 2017, his ex Amy, to whom he was married for 27 years, suggested Matt had begun seeing Caryn before their 2016 separation.
“We have someone that worked for us for a very, very long time on our farm and I believe—this is all from my perspective—you know that there was more than just friends going on,” Amy—who tied the knot with husband Chris Marek in 2021—said in a Facebook Live in March 2019. “And I think that evolved to a point where that got in the way of our marriage as well.”
Matt, for his part, never addressed Amy’s speculation.
