Caitlyn Jenner’s family have responded to her transition from male to female in various ways. While some, like Kim Kardashian, have been very accepting, others have struggled. Caitlyn’s most recent ex, Kris Jenner, has spoken about her pain over losing the man she was married to for more than 20 years, and now another of Caitlyn’s exes — Linda Thompson — is speaking out about spending time with the former Olympian.
“I can’t say that it’s not a little surreal for all of us,” Thompson, Caitlyn’s second wife, told Us Weekly on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation’s Light Up the Night White Party at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills.
Thompson, who was married to Jenner for five years until their divorce in 1986, and is the mother of her sons Brandon, 34, and Brody, 32, told Us that she has watched Caitlyn's E! docuseries, I Am Cait.
“I think it’s fascinating,” she says. “Of course, I lived it. We continue to be friendly. We’re not close friends, we don’t hang out. But, of course, Caitlyn is invited every time there is a family function. She has shown up a few times. It’s really kind of wonderful to see how all the kids have embraced her as a parent. She’s still a parent. She’s still a father.”
But Thompson, 65, admits it can be a little disconcerting to look at her former husband in her new body.
“I have to be honest and say it’s strange for me to see this beautiful woman, and look in her eyes, and think, ‘That’s the father of my children,’ ” the actress said. “That being said, I’m totally supportive of her and always have been.”
Thompson, who dated Elvis Presley before marrying Jenner in 1981, is currently writing a memoir due for release next year. “It’s certainly not a tell-all,” she says. “It’s about forgiveness, kindness, loving, acceptance, embracing people for who they are.”
She also revealed that Caitlyn, 65, initially told her 30 years ago “who she really was” and said she’s always been supportive.
“I felt terrible for her 30 years ago that she couldn’t really fully express who she really was,” she says. “So I’ve always been in support of her being who she needed to be. And who she rightfully should be. I think the world is kinder now than it was 30 years ago and certainly more educated. This is not a choice. This is how we’re born.”
