Inside Teen Mom Jenelle Evans’ rarely seen ex Andrew Lewis’ humble New York life away from son Jace and MTV cameras
ANDREW Lewis, Teen Mom alum Jenelle Evans’ rarely seen ex, has been living a humble life in New York City, far from his son Jace and the MTV cameras that once filmed him.
The U.S. Sun can exclusively report that Andrew has been quietly living in public housing in New York's Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, with his two-year-old pit bull Boops and a roommate.
Fans first met Jace's dad on MTV's 16 & Pregnant during Jenelle's journey through her pregnancy.
Jenelle in March was awarded custody of Jace, who is now 13.
Jace was living with his grandmother since he was a baby, up until she received custody.
In a recent interview, Andrew said he has been living in New York City for the past eight years and has become a chef.
Read More Jenelle Evans
"I was at the Marriot for a really long time," he said.
He continued: "Recently, I left Marriott, but I loved it, though I felt like it was a dead-end job for me there."
He said he now takes on occasional shifts at an Australian restaurant in Manhattan.
The one-time MTV personality said he has also been working on the other side of the camera these days as a production assistant.
Most read in Entertainment
"I've been working as a production assistant and I just actually got hired again for a new sci-fi film. I just want to go and do my job," he said.
"I enjoy behind the scenes more than I do being on camera," Andrew added.
The father of one said he loves living in New York.
"This is my home. The city makes me feel whole," he said, adding that he believes New Yorkers are nicer than people in the South, where he hails from.
ANDREW BEGS TO SEE JACE
Earlier this month Andrew sent a heartfelt plea to Jenelle to allow him to see Jace after all these years.
Andrew, who hasn't seen or talked to his son since he was just six months old, spoke directly into the camera while he addressed Jenelle and her mom Barbara Evans.
"Jenelle, Barbara, just let me see him, let me see Jace.
"Let me talk to him. Give me something.
"This is no more MTV bulls**t, this is reality," he said.
Andrew said he has attempted to connect with Jenelle about their son over the years to no avail.
When asked how he feels about Barbara having had custody of Jace all these years, he said: "How can I feel? I had no contact."
Despite Andrew's pain and frustration over not being able to see Jace, he said the only thing that truly matters is his son's happiness.
"As long as my son is happy. That's all I care about. That's all that matters, period. If Jace is happy with Jenelle, that's cool."
JENELLE GETS CUSTODY
Last month the former Teen Mom star said: "My mom and I decided together to grant full custody back to me because we want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter.
“Also, my mother agrees it’s time for Jace to be back with his siblings and living with a mother and father."
Jace will live with his mom and her current husband, David Eason, 34.
The Teen Mom star continued: “She also thinks it’s important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn ‘boy things’ and have ‘men talk.’ She has seen the way David parents my children and she knows we’re able to handle it."
"We want to all get along for the sake of the children, and like I said before, building back our relationship as mother and daughter. We have officially signed the papers on Thursday, March 16 at the courthouse, it’s a done deal!”
Jenelle gave Jace's custody rights up to her mom in 2009, after she was charged with marijuana possession and breaking and entering.
The ex-reality TV star was 17 at the time.
She is also the mother to her son Kaiser, eight, whom she shares with her ex Nathan Griffith.
Her daughter, Ensley, six, is the only child she shares with David, whom she married in 2017.
Jenelle is a stepmom to his daughter Maryssa, 15.
BATTLE WITH BARBARA
The MTV star and her mother entered a fierce legal battle in 2016 as she tried to regain custody of her son.
Jenelle was very vocal about Jace's "out of control behavior" and often accused Barbara of being unfit to take care of the child.
In April 2021, The U.S. Sun exclusively obtained North Carolina court papers that stated Jenelle's son set fire to his grandmother's home and has exhibited "out of control behavior."
According to the custody filing, Jenelle claimed there had been a “substantial change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the minor child” that warrants a change in the custody agreement."
Read More on The US Sun
The former Teen Mom 2 star claimed in the filing that Jace is “at risk of bodily injury” in the care of his grandmother.
That incident later caused her to file for emergency custody.
