💔 Why Matt Roloff and Caryn Chandler Ended Their Engagement

Little People, Big World star Matt Roloff and longtime partner Caryn Chandler have officially called it quits after eight years together. Their breakup comes just over a year after the final season of the TLC series aired in February 2024. The couple’s connection began years ago when Chandler worked on Roloff Farms, and their professional relationship eventually turned romantic in 2017. After six years of dating, Matt proposed in 2023, and they began planning a 2024 wedding. However, the ceremony never happened. The pair repeatedly delayed their nuptials, and ongoing family tensions seemed to strain their relationship, ultimately leading to their split.

Matt Roloff confirmed his split from Caryn Chandler in an Instagram post shared on July 22. In the announcement, he described the breakup as a mutual and respectful decision, noting that the two still care deeply for one another and value the memories they created over the years. He expressed gratitude to fans for their ongoing support and ended the message on an optimistic note, stating that he’s focusing on moving forward with hope and trust. While Matt didn’t go into detail about the reasons behind the breakup, subtle signs had begun to surface suggesting that not everything was going smoothly between the pair.

The Split Between the TLC Couple May Not Be as Mutual as It Looks

Although Roloff framed the breakup as a mutual decision, new reports suggest otherwise. According to The US Sun, a source close to the Roloff family revealed that it was primarily Chandler who chose to walk away. They also mentioned that the family was completely blindsided by the breakup. In the months leading up to the breakup, Roloff and Chandler appeared to be happy on the farm. And as recently as April, Matt Roloff even posted Instagram photos of them enjoying a night out at a concert. The sudden split has left even those in their inner circle trying to make sense of how things fell apart so quickly.

The roots of the breakup may trace back to the long-standing tension surrounding Matt and Caryn’s relationship. Before becoming romantically involved, Chandler worked at Roloff Farms as an employee — a dynamic that later fueled speculation among fans. Many believe their relationship may have started while Matt was still married to Amy Marek. In her memoir A Little Me, Amy even alleged that Matt and Caryn had been romantically involved during their marriage. The fact that Matt and Caryn made their relationship official so soon after the divorce only added fuel to the rumors. Public backlash followed, with Caryn often branded a “homewrecker,” and their relationship became a frequent subject of fan criticism and suspicion. That ongoing scrutiny and unresolved tension may have ultimately played a role in the couple’s decision to part ways.

When Roloff announced his engagement to Chandler, he shared that they were looking forward to a simple but elegant Hawaiian wedding in 2024. But those plans were quickly put on hold so Roloff could focus on caring for his aging mother. Over time, the wedding kept getting delayed, and their plans never moved past vague ideas. Little People, Big World‘s Season 25 finale showed that the couple had very different visions for the big day. Chandler said she wanted a small, intimate ceremony, while Roloff casually replied, “Maybe,” suggesting he was leaning toward a larger celebration with extended family and friends. Even that small exchange hinted at deeper disagreements when it came to how involved the family should be.

Chandler also faced ongoing challenges navigating Matt Roloff’s extended family dynamic. Matt shares four children with his ex-wife Amy, and he has remained on relatively good terms with her and her new husband — a closeness that often created uncomfortable moments for Caryn. In an episode of Little People, Big World that aired in April 2024, Caryn acknowledged that blending families hadn’t been easy. She admitted she’d made a conscious effort to establish healthy boundaries in a second relationship — but those boundaries were often pushed.

One major point of tension was Matt’s desire to host their wedding at Roloff Farms, the same location where he had previously married Amy. Caryn opposed the idea, feeling the venue was too steeped in the past. She hoped to start fresh and build new traditions, not relive old ones. In the end, the emotional weight of Matt’s family history may have proved too much for their relationship to withstand.