When a public figure’s personal life becomes tabloid fodder, it’s their family members who often bear the brunt of unwanted attention. That’s exactly what 18-year-old Bailee Ann DeFord, daughter of rapper Jelly Roll, found herself dealing with this week—and she wasn’t shy about calling it out.
On Tuesday, June 16, just one day after news broke that her father had filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo after nearly a decade of marriage, Bailee Ann took to TikTok to set a firm boundary. In a post paired with a photo of herself in bed, she didn’t mince words:“I am disgusted at how invested everyone is in a very clearly private family matter. It’s fkn crazy. Go on somewhere yall. Worry’bout your house — not mine. I’m not speaking on it — yet.”
The filing itself, confirmed by Us Weekly on Monday, June 15, reveals that Jelly Roll (real name Jason Bradley DeFord), 41, submitted divorce documents to a Tennessee court on May 18, listing the separation date as May 9. The reason cited:“irreconcilable differences.”The papers indicate the couple intends to divide assets equitably and share responsibility for their debts. Jelly Roll shares primary custody of Bailee Ann with ex Felicia Beckwith, while he holds primary custody of his daughter with Bunnie Xo, 46.
The split catches observers by surprise—or at least, it would, if the couple hadn’t already been transparent about their struggles. During an October 2025 podcast appearance, Jelly Roll acknowledged he’d cheated on Bunnie after they married in Las Vegas in August 2016. In a February interview, Bunnie discussed how they’d rebuilt their relationship after the betrayal.“Even though the affair is a part of the book, it’s not our story,”she said.“It’s literally what catapulted us into who we are today.”Just months earlier, she’d told People that the couple was exploring in vitro fertilization and hoped to welcome twins—a stark contrast to the current reality.
Bunnie herself subtly reacted to the split via social media on May 20, sharing a cryptic TikTok with the caption:“Women’s intuition when that s*** don’t add up. Mmmmhmmm #bunniexo.”Neither she nor Jelly Roll has made a formal public statement.
What Bailee Ann’s pushback underscores is a reality that celebrity families navigate constantly: the expectation that every relationship milestone, triumph, and failure is communal property. Her frustration isn’t just about privacy—it’s about the emotional toll of watching strangers dissect your family’s pain. At 18, she’s old enough to recognize the absurdity, and brave enough to say so publicly.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.