Gary Owen Says Lack of Intimacy Led to Infidelity in First Marriage

Comedian and actor Gary Owen has spoken publicly about why he cheated during his previous marriage to Kenya Duke, saying a lack of intimacy played a major role in their relationship.

In an interview with Vlad TV published Aug. 22, Owen, 52, said he and Duke had sex only three times during the final six years of their marriage. He said they were not compatible in the bedroom and described their relationship as one in which they had become more like roommates.

Owen stressed that he was not blaming Duke, saying the lack of intimacy was mutual. He said his relationship with his current wife, Brianna Johnson, is different and that he expects to remain faithful because they have a strong intimate connection.

Owen and Duke married in 2003 and divorced in 2021. They share two children, Austin and Kennedy. Owen married Johnson earlier this year. The couple welcomed twin sons, Royal and Rome, in July 2023.

The comedian has also spoken about his strained relationship with his older children following his divorce. In 2024, he said he had not seen them in more than three years and described the situation as one of his greatest personal failures.

Duke later responded on Instagram, saying she had tried to respect Owen and their children's boundaries but believed he continued discussing the family situation publicly despite her concerns.

Last month, however, their son Austin shared a photo of himself with both parents, saying he had brought them together for the first time in six years and adding, “God is good.”