Teen Mom’s Jenelle Evans Says Son Jace Is Being ‘Disciplined’ After He Shared Their Volatile Texts

Teen Mom’s Jenelle Evans says she “disciplined” son Jace Evans after the teenager shared the pair’s private text exchange via Instagram.

Hours after Jace, 16, posted screen shots of texts that discussed an alleged altercation between himself and Jenelle’s ex-husband David Eason, and custody over Jace, Jenelle, 33, took to her Instagram Stories to provide an explanation. (Jenelle was 17 when she gave birth to Jace and originally signed custody to her mom, Barbara Evans. Jenelle was awarded custody herself in 2023.)

“My children are my whole world, and everything I do is to try and protect, guide and love them,” Jenelle wrote in the first of two Instagram Stories shared on Tuesday, August 19. “Like any parent, I set rules and boundaries, and sometimes that isn’t easy. Jace posting our private texts was his reaction to being rightfully disciplined.”

According to TMZ, who claimed to have spoken to Jenelle after Jace’s screen shots were shared, the texts “were taken out of context and posted in retaliation after she disciplined her son.”

In Jenelle’s first Instagram Story, she also detailed how Jace’s actions made her feel. “While it hurts to see those moments shared publicly, I know it comes from a place of struggle,” she wrote in blush pink text over a cloud-filled backdrop. “Navigating Jace’s different medical diagnoses has not been easy but I have never stopped fighting to make sure he has the resources, love and support he needs.”

The second Instagram Story from Jenelle also claimed that Jace recently faced issues with law enforcement. “Recently he’s also been in trouble with the law these past few months and is having a hard time adjusting to the rules set before him,” Jenelle wrote. “I’ve been trying everything to help him navigate it but we are butting heads in the process. Please give us grace at this time. This is hard on all of us.”

Jace’s screen shots were shared over three individual Instagram grid posts. The first was captioned with, “I am finally putting out how much mother really is,” before the second arrived without a caption and the third read, “I need to go back to NC she is just rlly [sic] unstable.” (Jenelle told Us Weekly in June that Jace was “back at home with me” in Las Vegas after living with his biological father Andrew Lewis in Florida.)

The first post included a text from Jenelle that read, “Your [sic] the one saying you’re going to have my custody taken. F*** YOU.”

Jace’s second post included further texts from Jenelle that read, “Just like the way you lied about David strangling you. You make things worse on yourself.” Jace’s responses argued Jenelle’s claim before expanding on the alleged situation.

In September 2023, Jace accused Eason, 37, of assaulting him. Jenelle confirmed via a TikTok post less than two years later that Jace had moved in with Lewis in an attempt to look after his mental health.

She said at the time, “He [Jace] was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 10 and … in 2023, he was also diagnosed with major depressive disorder along with his ADHD and defiant disorder or ODD. With defiant disorder, it’s very hard to deal with. Kids act out on purpose because they want attention. They have no remorse. They have no empathy for what they did.”