Katie Bates Breaks Silence on Husband Travis Clark’s Affair

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Katie Bates is sharing her truth.

Following her husband, Travis Clark’s, confession of infidelity, the former star of Bringing Up Bates spoke out about the situation.

Katie shared on Instagram on January 19th that she was deeply saddened by a difficult start to the year, following a pregnancy loss and struggles within her marriage. She explained it had been a very painful time for her and her family, and that her trust had been broken.

Despite everything happening, she and Travis, 24, are prioritizing their children, Hailey, who is 2 years old, and Harvey, 15 months old.

She said that Travis privately apologized for his actions and then decided to publicly accept responsibility, which she fully supports because he wants to be open and honest about everything.

We’re handling this situation privately, getting advice both as a couple and on our own, to figure out what’s best for our family. I also have a lawyer helping me. This is a difficult process that I’m approaching very seriously and it won’t be resolved quickly.

Oh my gosh, I’ve been following Carlin Stewart since Bringing Up Bates – can you believe she grew up with eighteen siblings?! Anyway, she just said she really wants to focus on her relationship with Travis, and honestly, that’s amazing to hear. I’m so invested in their happiness!

She stated that all future decisions will be made thoughtfully and deliberately, always prioritizing the well-being of her family and children. She also expressed her faith in God’s ability to heal and her strong hope to save her marriage.

Katie explained that while she’d like to spend less time on social media, it’s crucial for her work.

I’ve put this off as long as I could, but I have prior commitments I can’t reschedule,” she said. “I know life goes on, even when things are tough, and I really appreciate your patience and understanding.

She finished her message by thanking everyone for their support, saying, “Thank you for all your prayers, kindness, and compassion.”

Two days earlier, Travis publicly shared that he was unfaithful to his wife of four years.

On January 16th, he publicly admitted on Instagram that he had been unfaithful and betrayed his partner’s trust multiple times. He stated that his actions were entirely his fault and he took full responsibility, offering no justification for his behavior.

Let me tell you, sometimes words just aren’t enough, especially when you’ve really hurt someone. I’ve been in situations where I’ve caused deep pain, and all I can say is that I’m genuinely sorry. But honestly, a simple apology doesn’t fix things, and I know I can’t ask for forgiveness – it’s not my place. All I can do is acknowledge the hurt and hope, eventually, healing can begin. It’s about taking responsibility, not expecting a quick fix.

Now that Katie is starting a new chapter, let’s explore her large and interesting family history.

William “Gil” Bates, a wrestling champion from South Carolina, met his future wife, Kelly Callaham, while both were students at Anderson University. Kelly was assigned to tutor Gil in Chemistry, and they quickly connected. They got engaged in October 1987 while attending Carson-Newman University in Tennessee and married two months later. The couple didn’t plan on having a large family, and didn’t use birth control, choosing instead to leave the number of children up to God. Gil later told Dateline in 2011 that they initially expected to have only two or three children.

The couple’s oldest son, Zachary Bates, was born shortly after their wedding, and their 19th child, Jeb Bates, arrived in 2012. When it comes to remembering all their children’s names, Kelly jokes that her husband, Gil, who owns Bates Tree Service, has a better memory than she does.

Zachary, born on December 30, 1988, was raised at home alongside his siblings and studied with the Institute in Basic Life Principles. While his early courtship with Sarah Reith was featured on 19 Kids and Counting, he eventually married Whitney Perkins, whom he met while they both worked at Sonic. They began courting in 2013 and were married that December. John-David Duggar was a groomsman at their wedding. Together, they have five children: sons Bradley (born October 2014) and Jayden (born June 2021), and daughters Kaci (born June 2016), Khloé (born November 2019), and Lily Jo (born August 2023).

Let me tell you, Zachary is a real Renaissance man! Beyond helping people discover their roots with the family history business, he’s worn so many different hats. He’s actually served as a police officer, dedicated time to public service as a county commissioner, and even helped people find their dream homes as a real estate agent. It’s amazing how many different skills he’s cultivated!

Born on January 23, 1990, just thirteen months after her brother, Michaela Bates Keilen developed a knack for sewing at a young age. She often made dresses for her family and helped manage their laundry. She and her future husband, Brandon Keilen, dated for two years before he could propose after finishing bible college, and they became engaged in April 2015.

After getting married in Chicago that August, the couple faced difficulties trying to start a family. Michaela openly shared her experiences with fertility challenges on her blog and YouTube channel. Following a miscarriage in 2021, they began fostering two young boys.

Erin Bates Pain, born on May 2, 1991, shared with People magazine that she has only positive memories of how her parents raised her. She says looking back, her childhood was filled with wonderful experiences and happy memories.

Growing up without a TV wasn’t a loss, she explained. Instead, her family spent that time playing with their dad, enjoying games together, and creating memories. She believes this actually made them more resourceful and intelligent.

After marrying Charles “Chad” Paine III in 2013, the couple hoped to have a large family. They experienced several miscarriages due to a blood clotting disorder before welcoming their children: Carson (May 2015), Brooklyn (August 2016), Everly (May 2018), Holland (November 2019), and Finley (January 2022). Despite believing they couldn’t have any more children, they continued to grow their family with William (October 2023) and Henry (August 2025). Following Henry’s birth, Chad shared on Instagram that Erin experienced septic shock and asked for prayers for her recovery.

I’ve been following Lawson Bates for a while now – it’s amazing how he started his lawn care business, Lawson’s Lawncare, when he was just 13! There was a lot of buzz a while back about him and Jana Duggar because he left some comments on her Instagram, but he’s now happily engaged! He proposed to Tiffany Espensen during a trip to Italy in October 2021. He told People that getting to know Tiffany – who he says shares his passions and dreams – has been the best thing ever, and they’ve had an incredible year making memories together. It’s so great to see him so happy!

I was so thrilled when they got married on a beautiful yacht off the San Diego coast back in May 2022. It was heartbreaking to hear about their miscarriage, but I was overjoyed when they welcomed little William in July 2024! And just when I thought things couldn’t get any sweeter, they announced they’re expecting baby number two!

Nathan Bates was born on August 29, 1993. He first became known to viewers through his courtship with Ashley Salyer on the show Bringing Up Bates, but he later proposed to Esther Keyes in May 2021. They married in October of the same year, following a family tradition of sharing their first kiss at the wedding ceremony. A year later, they welcomed their daughter, Kenna, and then their son, Graham, in October 2024. Nathan has always felt called to be a preacher and has pursued that through mission trips and work as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, played a key role in her family, handling secretarial duties, shopping for clothes, and preparing meals. She met John Webster while working on the campaign for U.S. Representative Daniel Webster in Florida. They became engaged in January 2014, celebrating at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, and married that May. The couple, who live in Florida, have five children: Alli (born April 2015), Lexi (born January 2017), Zoey (born March 2018), Maci (born February 2021), and Rhett (born March 2023).

Born on December 20, 1995, a year after her sister, Tori Bates Smith began dating Bobby Smith in 2016, and their relationship was documented on the family’s reality show. They married in December 2017, just months after getting engaged. Tori, who graduated from Crown College of the Bible with a degree in elementary education, and Bobby have five children: Robert IV (born November 2018), Kolter (born May 2020), Charlotte (born June 2021), Cambree (born August 2022), and Weston (born May 2024).

Trace Bates, whose name means “harvester of the white fields,” was born on February 1, 1997. He met his future wife, Lydia Romeike, after being introduced by his sister, Josie Bates Balka, following a televised courtship with Chaney Kahle. They announced their engagement in March 2022 on YouTube, with Trace sharing that Lydia was his best friend and the most positive influence in his life. They married in October 2022 in front of 350 guests, including Jason Duggar, who was an usher. Their son, Ryker, was born in October 2023, and they welcomed their daughter, Kaia, in June 2025.

Carlin Bates Stewart was born on April 11, 1998, and graduated high school with her brother, Trace, after taking college courses while still in high school. She met her husband, Evan Stewart, through her sister Erin, and they got engaged in September 2018. They married in May of the following year, with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth as a bridesmaid. Their daughter, Layla, was born in January 2020 and featured on the show Bringing Up Bates. Their son, Zade, arrived in March 2022, and they announced they were expecting their third child in September 2025.

Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child on August 4, 1999. She later met Kelton Balka at a piano recital in 2014, and they became friends. Their relationship blossomed into romance in 2017, and they got engaged in June 2018 – all captured on camera! They married that October, with cameras rolling again. They have three children: Willow, born in July 2019, Hazel, born in June 2021, and Miles, born in February 2024. They announced they are expecting another child in April 2025.

Katie Bates Clark was born on October 5, 2000, and her name means “pure grace.” She announced her relationship with Travis Clark on Facebook Live in 2019, and they got engaged by the ocean in April 2021. They married in December of that year and welcomed their daughter, Hailey, in February 2023, followed by their son, Harvey, in September 2024. Katie is a licensed cosmetologist, having graduated from The Crown College, and she works as a stylist for her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, as well as a model for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Jackson Bates, along with Warden and Isaiah Bates (often referred to as the ‘three musketeers’), was born on February 17, 2002. He met his future wife, Emerson Wells, at a rodeo in Florida and announced their engagement in March 2023. They married in October of that year, with Jason Duggar as a groomsman, and welcomed their son, David, in July 2025.

Born on May 19, 2003, Warden is known as “Tigger” because he’s always full of energy and loves to bounce around. He enjoys playing sports and singing, and he’s worked hard, helping both his dad’s excavating company and his brother-in-law Chad’s construction business, Paine Construction.

The third member of the team joined on October 16, 2004. After graduating from Crown College in 2023 with a certificate in Christian Life Foundations, and working for both his father and brother-in-law Chad, he started his own lawn care business in 2022.

Oh my gosh, Addalee Bates is just incredible! You wouldn’t believe her story. She was born so early, back on February 17th, 2006, and had a really tough time in the NICU with her breathing. She even wears hearing aids, but honestly, it just makes her even more special! Her parents are amazing too – they added a bunch of extra letters to her name as a reminder of how lucky she is to be alive, like a beautiful symbol of her second chance. And get this – she finished a whole one-year bible program in 2025! Seriously, she’s an inspiration.

Ellie Bates, whose name means “strong light,” became part of the team on April 28, 2007. She frequently models for photos used by Bates Sisters Boutique.

Callie-Anna Bates, the youngest daughter of Gil and Kelly, was born on August 2, 2009. Kelly described her as the most outgoing of their children, saying on Instagram in 2020 that people are naturally attracted to her personality.

Kelly wrote on Instagram in December 2020 that Jud Bates has quickly grown up since joining them on September 15, 2010. He’s faced a couple of injuries, breaking his right collarbone twice – once while playing football and again while riding his e-bike.

The Bates family grew with the arrival of Jeb Bates on February 1, 2012. He spent some time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after his birth. Gil Bates shared with People magazine that even with 19 children, he felt just as excited and anxious about Jeb’s arrival as he did with their firstborn.

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2026-01-20 17:51