How Caitlyn Jenner made her mother a TV star before death at 96
Caitlyn Jenner’s mother, Esther Jenner, has passed away at the age of 96, it was announced on Friday.
Shortly afterward, 73-year-old Caitlyn shared on Instagram that she was “heartbroken” at the loss of the woman who had been by her side for so many decades.
Esther grew up with humble beginnings on a chicken farm. Esther had four children with her husband, William Jenner, before his death in 2000: Caitlyn, Pam Mettler, Lisa Jenner, and Burt Jenner, the last of whom died in a car accident in 1976.
But when Jenner decided to discuss her transition from Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Jenner on the reality TV show I Am Cait, she made mom Esther a star. The show aired from 2015 to 2016 with two seasons.
Caitlyn put her mom in the hot seat when she asked her on camera how she felt about the change.
Esther was not a complete stranger to TV as she had already appeared in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashian back in 2013. In that episode, Esther had to compete with Kris Jenner, with whom she did not have a good relationship.
Side by side: Caitlyn Jenner made her late mother a star in I Am Cait; here Esther joined her daughter at the 2015 ESPY Awards as she donned a dark green dress
Trying to understand: on I Am Cait she had a big role. Esther was relatively unknown before Caitlyn put her mom on camera for the show where Caitlyn discussed her gender. And the mother squirmed
Way Ago: Caitlyn as Bruce Jenner with his then-fiancee Linda Thompson, parents William and Esther Jenner, and sister Lisa Jenner in 1980
On I Am Cait she had a much bigger role.
Esther was relatively unknown before Caitlyn put her mom on camera for the show where Caitlyn discussed her gender.
And the mother squirmed.
“My first feeling was – I lost my son,” says Esther in the eloquent documentary I Am Cait.
As Caitlyn’s mother, Esther struggled to understand the former Olympian’s transition to being a woman.
‘But then I thought’, Esther continues. ‘You know what? I win [a daughter].’
Esther – who also had scenes with granddaughter Kylie Jenner – reacted to the change with real human emotion and she communicated these feelings openly.
Hugs: Esther had already appeared in a 2013 episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashian, but she was just a guest star
In the midst of love and support for Caitlyn and her chosen path, Esther suffered, “I love Bruce. That will never change, but this will take some getting used to.’
But the proud mother didn’t mean it amiss.
Among the many hugs, the mother and daughter discussed the metamorphosis at length.
“I’m still the same person,” Caitlyn said.
“That’s your soul,” Esther agreed.
Esther received critical acclaim from People and PageSix for being so supportive of Caitlyn after her transition.
Through thick and thin: Esther was clearly proud of her daughter at the ceremony when Caitlyn accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
They had a connection: Kylie said on I Am Cait that she wanted to be a young mother like her grandmother Esther was
Ouch: In 2022, Esther made headlines when she said she wasn’t a fan of the Hulu series The Kardashians. “I think that Kardashian show is the most pointless thing I’ve ever seen,” Esther told US Sun. Seen with Kris on KUWTK in 2013
Esther stood by her daughter.
During Caitlyn’s first public appearance at the 2015 ESPY Awards, Esther sat in the crowd next to her daughter, wearing a dark green dress.
The mother of four looked at her child in admiration — as if she saw neither male nor female, confusion nor contempt, only love — as Caitlyn accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Caitlyn announced the sad news of her mother’s passing in a heartfelt Instagram post on Friday.
There was a happy photo of Caitlyn – who used to be married to momager Kris Jenner – with her mom at a birthday party.
Jenner’s mom was also close to her two daughters she has with Kris: Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
A sad loss: Caitlyn shared the news of her mother’s death on Friday. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star announced the sad news in a heartfelt Instagram post. There was a happy photo of Cailtyn – who used to be married to momager Kris Jenner – with her mother
“I am heartbroken to announce that my mother passed away peacefully yesterday morning,” Jenner wrote.
“Losing a mother is unique in that she is the only person who has loved me all my life. I will miss her immensely.
“She was a few weeks short of 97 and living a full life. love you mom.’
Caitlyn Marie Jenner is a former Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete.
Jenner played college football for the Graceland Yellowjackets before suffering a knee injury that required surgery.
She had spunk: “I am heartbroken to announce that my mother passed away peacefully yesterday morning,” Jenner wrote
On their show: “Losing a mother is unique in the sense that she is the only person who has loved me all my life. I will miss her terribly,” Cait said
Very close: Esther said last year that she talked to her daughter every day
Esther welcomed Caitlyn in 1949, to Mount Kisco, New York, with her husband as William Bruce Jenner, who was originally from New Brunswick, Canada.
Esther never seemed to get along with the Kardashians.
In 2022, Esther made headlines when she said she was not a fan of the Hulu series The Kardashians.
“I think that Kardashian show is the most pointless thing I’ve ever seen,” Esther told US Sun.
“But my two granddaughters, Kendall and Kylie, made it and I love them dearly.
‘They are my blood. And my four step-grandchildren — Kim, Kourtney, Khloé, and Robert — feel like they belong to me too.”
Caitlyn was not asked to join The Kardashians.
Family Connection: Esther with Kendall and Kyli, as well as Brody and Brandon Jenner and others in 2014
They lost a grandmother: Kylie and Kendall are seen here at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March
‘I do not know if [Caitlyn] even cares. It’s something we haven’t even talked about yet,” she said.
Esther said at the time that she was very close to Caitlyn: “We talk probably three or four times a week. I have to live with whatever decisions are made [she] creates and supports [her] in whatever [she] chooses to do. I’m not in control,’ Esther added.
After the interview ended, Cait’s rep told PageSix that Esther was not in her senses.
Caitlyn’s 96-year-old mother is senile. She lives alone in a house. Caitlyn has 24/7 armed security at all times and is not afraid for her safety. Any comments regarding the Kardashian and Jenner kids are that woman’s own opinion and were hurtful to Caitlyn to read about in the press.”