SEPARATED! Caryn Chandler & Chris Marek | Matt Divorce| Little People Big World | LPBW | TLC
SEPARATED! Caryn Chandler & Chris Marek | Matt Divorce| Little People Big World | LPBW | TLC
Today, we’re diving into the drama surrounding Karen Chandler from Little People, Big World. Over the years, Karen has gained a reputation for being somewhat materialistic, and many fans have questioned whether her intentions behind dating and marrying Matt Roloff are truly as innocent as they seem.
Starting out as one of Matt’s employees, Karen worked on Roloff Farms as his assistant for 10 years before securing her spot on the reality TV show. Matt had previously been married to Amy Roloff, with whom he co-founded Roloff Farms back in 1990. What began as a family farm turned into a major tourist attraction, bringing fame and fortune to the Roloff family. But Karen’s story is a bit different—she too had a long marriage, to Joseph Chandler, which lasted for 20 years before they divorced in 2012.
In 2016, when Matt and Amy split, Karen was suddenly presented with an opportunity to step into Matt’s life. With two children to support after her divorce, Karen may have seen Matt’s wealth and the value of Roloff Farms as a way to secure her financial future.
Now, let’s talk about the farm drama. Season 25 of Little People, Big World saw Matt making a shocking decision: he listed 16 acres of Roloff Farms for sale without consulting anyone, especially Zach, his son who was expected to take over the farm someday. This left Zach feeling betrayed and understandably hurt. While he hasn’t publicly blamed Karen for this decision, her lack of interest in taking on the responsibility of managing the farm likely influenced Matt’s actions.
It’s clear that Karen has played a role in the financial decisions surrounding the farm, especially considering she and Matt began building a new home during this season. The idea of a new, lavish life was appealing to both of them, and the money from selling the farm likely contributed to funding their new property. And while Karen doesn’t seem to have directly interfered with Zach’s future on the farm, the financial incentive is something she surely would have noticed.
Karen has openly shared her life on social media, giving fans a glimpse of her new luxurious lifestyle. From frequent getaways to Cabo to a lavish two-story home, it’s clear that her relationship with Matt has provided her with a level of comfort and luxury that wasn’t there before. In fact, during Season 25, Karen told Matt that his house was always going to be “our” house, but later confessed that when it came to making decisions about the house, Matt always consulted her first. While it may sound like a reasonable sentiment, it also hints at a dynamic where Karen’s influence over Matt’s decisions is significant—particularly when it comes to where they live and how they spend their money.
In the end, Matt’s financial success from the farm and the TV show, combined with Karen’s influence, has likely shaped much of the ongoing drama. The bigger question is: did Karen intentionally push for these changes, or was she simply seizing an opportunity for a better life?
