Peru native Jerry Phlippeau shares his story on TLC’s “You, Me and My Ex”

Show focuses on Phlippeau living with his ex-wife, girlfriend

Peru native Jerry Phlippeau never imagined he would one day appear on a TLC television show with his ex-wife Jessica Rios and girlfriend Kayeelovey but was happy to be able to share his story on how his unique family came together.

“I want to show people that two people can come together and raise kids,” Phlippeau said. “It was an interesting opportunity and I know a lot of people will fill in different blanks and assume things but I think in the end you’ll see a miracle happen and you’ll see people coming together in a blended family to raise their kids together.”

Phlippeau, Rios and Kayeelovey are all featured on the inaugural season of “You, Me and My Ex” that airs new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. on TLC. The first episode has already aired.

The show brings cameras inside of the homes of five couples who, in one way or another, are still very involved with an ex.

Phlippeau and Rios are both La Salle-Peru High School graduates and were married for 15 years and had four boys. Phlippeau also has a daughter from another marriage.

Phlippeau and Rios went through a divorce and didn’t speak much for around a five-year period. Phlippeau’s children have been living with him for many years during this time.

Last year Phlippeau became gravely ill from a bacterial infection that required him to be life flighted. The infection caused a brain infection, kidney, liver and respiratory failure.

“I was told that I had no chance to live,” Phlippeau said. “(Rios) actually walked out of her job, at the time she was living in Utah, she got in her car and stopped at home to pack her bag and she grabbed a black dress because she was preparing for a funeral.”

Rios drove straight through from Utah and remained by his side as he spent a month in the intensive care unit on a ventilator.

“She helped me learn how to walk again,” Phlippeau said. “She studied to be a physical therapist, so she helped me get my life back. It’s a miracle, I really believe that it was an absolute miracle that I survived.”

Before contracting his illness, Phlippeau began online dating and eventually met Kayeelovey. With his illness and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic they decided to all move in together and were presented with the opportunity of the show.

“In a normal world, I don’t think I would have done something like that but with COVID and everything going on, good or bad decision, I decided to do it,” Phlippeau said.

Phlippeau isn’t new to the TV world as he has appeared on many different programs such as the QVC shopping network, the Dating Game, created his own traveling show and more through the years. Phlippeau is also the founder and president of Flipo Group, LTD based in La Salle.

Phlippeau said the filming process was enjoyable and the entirety of his section of the show was filmed in the area.

While he was familiar with how a TV set functions, the added measures of the COVID-19 pandemic added a wrinkle that made certain things more difficult to work around.

For instance, Kayeelovey had to quarantine herself in a local cabin for 14 days in order to safely enter the home and the show.

“Everything was just done perfectly,” Phlippeau said. “Everything was really done professionally, which you would expect from a company like that. It was nice.”

Phlippeau said the initial response that he has gotten from his family has been positive and many of them were excited to see the outcome.

While the show focuses on his time with Rios and Kayeelovey over the course of filming, Phlippeau hopes the takeaway from his story is one that is real and positive.

“I truly believe I was given another chance at life and I was granted a miracle,” Phlippeau said. “We don’t always get second chances.”

Those interested in checking out Phlippeau in “You, Me and My Ex” can catch the next episode 9 p.m. Sunday, June 27, on TLC.