Teen Mom 's Maci Shares How She Feels About Ex Ryan's Fiancée Amanda
Amanda Conner wasn't the only one saying yes when Ryan Edwards dropped to his bended knee this January.
Count his former fiancée Maci Bookout—mom to their 16-year-old son Bentley—among those thrilled to see the soon-to-be dad of four commit to forever with her former high school classmate.
"She has been a game-changer, honestly," the Teen Mom star raved of Amanda in an exclusive interview with E! News. "We're very close friends and she's just got really great energy. She's very authentic and she genuninely loves and cares about Ryan and Bentley so obviously that's all I could ever ask for."
And like her husband-to-be, Amanda—who has a son from her previous marriage—is enjoying her own sobriety journey.
"I got kicked out of public schools from drugs and fighting and getting in trouble, getting arrested at a young age," she shared last fall on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. "I don't know why it took so long to learn, but I went through the wringer and I'm not going back there."
Instead, she's looking ahead to a future that includes the spring arrival of their little girl and making memories with their blended family.
"Bentley really enjoys her," noted Maci, also mom to Jayde, 00, and Maverick, 00, with husband Taylor McKinney. "Even my other two kids, they love her and her son, so having her around has been wonderful."
More from E! Online
Justin Baldoni's 2 AM Voice Memo to Blake Lively Revealed
Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell Reveals Where She Stands With Daughter Carly's Adoptive Parents
Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Reveals Ex Kody Brown Spent "Lots" of Their Family Money
Instead, she's looking ahead to a future that includes the spring arrival of her and Ryan's little girl and making memories with their blended family.
"Bentley really enjoys her," noted Maci, also mom to Jayde, 9, and Maverick, 8, with husband Taylor McKinney. "Even my other two kids, they love her and her son, so having her around has been wonderful."
Though, while Bentley is prepared to exercise his considerable eldest sibling skills, Maci joked, "I think he is ready for this to be the last sibling."
Nor is he looking to put his expertise to use on any babies of his own at the moment.
"We've always had those open communications," Maci explained of speaking to her teen about safe sex in the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, which premieres on MTV Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. "So they're definitely not as awkward as they were in the beginning. I know it sounds odd, but they're normal."
As is, remarkably, her once-contentious (as in restraining order contentious) relationship with ex Ryan.
Having ironed out the considerable kinks in their co-parenting partnership back in 2023, "We are still doing really well," Maci emphasized. "I honestly think it's gotten here because there was no pressure. We've let it naturally take its course and just our communication's better."
And, of course, it doesn't hurt that Ryan—also dad to Jagger, 6, and Stella, 5, with first wife Mackenzie Standifer—has been working to improve himself since his 2023 overdose.
"I think Ryan being sober and healthy has created a fresh air for us to breathe in," acknowledged Maci. "But we also made a commitment to try and stay respectful and to maintain communication even if we're feeling some type of way."
As for how she handled Bentley feeling some type of way as he witnessed Ryan's various legal troubles, "Therapy," Maci shared of their not-so-secret weapon. "Therapy and honestly doing work on myself and understanding the responsibility and the roles that I play, but also understanding what is not my responsibility."
These days, when it comes to her eldest son, "You can almost even physically see how much lighter it is for him," she continued. "There's no tension or awkwardness. It's much less of a chore for all of us, to be honest."
Because their happy quartet also includes Taylor, Maci's husband of eight years.
"Even when we've had a rough year together, I think at the end of the day, I still choose him," she previously explained to E! of her forever teammate. "I like him. And even if I want to punch him in the face sometimes, I'd rather argue with him or have a rough patch with him than never have a rough patch with anybody else."
And she's not the only franchise regular to have found their person. Check out who the rest of the Teen Mom cast is navigating rough seas and calm waters alongside.
Maci Bookout & Taylor McKinneyCory Wharton & Taylor Selfridge
Amber Portwood & Gary ShirleyAmber Portwood & Dimitri GarciaAmber Portwood & Gary Wayt
Leah Messer & Corey Simms
Leah Messer & Jaylan Mobley
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
9 minutes ago
- CNET
If You've Ever Said 'There's Nothing on Netflix,' You Need These Secret Codes
Netflix is full of great new movies and classic cult TV shows that the service promotes on its home screen and via your personalized recommendations. But if you use Netflix a lot, it's not hard to find yourself stuck in a rut. Luckily, there's a better way to discover content you'll actually enjoy. Netflix has a library of secret category codes that let you browse by ultra-specific genres. Think campy horror, "short-ass movies," vintage thrillers or feel-good '90s comedies. Once you know how to use Netflix's secret codes, it's easier to skip the fluff and jump straight into something fresh and worth watching. For more, check out our favorite sci-fi movies on Netflix and learn how to share your favorite Netflix clips via text message or social media. What are Netflix secret category codes? Netflix codes are a set of unique numerical identifiers that can help you find specific genres or sub-genres in the Netflix library on the streamer's website (not the app). Typically, you're constrained to the genres available via the main Netflix menu. There's no way to choose by specific category other than what's been chosen for you when you log on. Using these codes opens up an entire library of options for you to choose from that can help you better settle on what to watch for the night. It can even help you discover shows and movies. Adding these codes to the ends of Netflix URLs lets you directly access collections of movies and TV shows that fall under your chosen category. For example, if you're short on time and want to queue up a shorter movie, you could check the 90-Minute Movies category with the code 81466194. Looking for something for your entire brood to enjoy? The "Family Movie Night" collection, accessed with code 2013975, is chock-full of favorites even Grandma can get into. There are more than 36,000 codes to choose from so don't worry about memorizing them or trying random sequences. Resources like have an entire directory to sift through so you can search for what you'd like to watch there and find corresponding codes in no time. The Netflix-Codes site has a full directory of all the available categories on Netflix. by CNET How do I find Netflix's secret menus of movies and shows? There isn't an all-encompassing Netflix secret menu per se. Instead, you will use URLs with special codes to display certain curated collections of movies and shows. has a good list of the streaming platform's hidden genre categories and subcategories. In total, there are about 20 top-level categories covering genres like animation, foreign films and classic movies. Within those main genres are many more hyper-specific subgenres denoted by numeric codes. All you need to do is find the category you want, copy the related code and append it to the end of a Netflix URL. What kinds of categories does Netflix offer? There's much more to Netflix than what you've been scrolling through. At last count, there were more than 36,000 unique categories to explore. The entirety of the categories available on Netflix starts with broad main genres like Action, Comedy and Drama, but they get more specific as you dive even deeper. There are straight-to-the-point collections like Movies Directed by Women (code 2974953), or more specifically targeted curated lists, like Supernatural Soaps (code 81238162), just in case you like your werewolves with a side of angst and romance. Feeling "Very Demure, Very Mindful?" The very queen of that TikTok trend, Jools Lebron, has a collection just for you. Likewise, if you're missing football in the off season, check out Touchdowns, Triumphs & Trials. Rather than relying solely on the standard homepage categories or Netflix's algorithm, you can use these secret codes to pinpoint and explore different nooks and crannies of the catalog to find hidden gems. Netflix codes for award-winning movies and shows Netflix secret codes are exactly that -- secret. There's no official directory, and it's hard to get a full list, as categories will go empty as movies and shows move on and off Netflix. The names of categories will also change often as well so you'll want to be vigilant when you go searching for what you want to watch. To make it easier for you, there are even categories that you can use to find all the award-winning movies and shows to be discovered on the streamer. Award-winning movies: 89844 Award-winning TV programs: 89814 Award-winning documentaries: 93108 How do I find more Netflix codes? If you're not comfortable with editing Netflix URLs, you can use a browser extension to access the secret menus. The Better Browse for Netflix extension for Chrome is a great choice. Here's how to use it: 1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for "Better Browse for Netflix." (Note that this extension is unavailable for Firefox users.) 2. Click Add to Chrome. 3. Click Add Extension. 4. Log into your Netflix account in a new tab. If the extension is installed, you'll see a Browse All option at the top of your Netflix home screen next to My List. Click it to scroll through the subgenres or to search through specific categories. Adding the Better Browse for Netflix extension to Chrome gives you a drop-down menu with Netflix categories. Screenshot by CNET Alternatively, you can use the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser that you can scroll through by clicking on the FF icon that will appear on the top right of your screen. There's no need to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on and it features 7,500 categories alphabetized for your convenience. A third way is through the Netflix Codes website. Here's how: 1. Visit in any PC or mobile browser. 2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore. 3. Tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want. 4. If you're on a device that has the Netflix app installed, the app should open and take you directly to the genre or subgenre you chose. If you don't have the app installed, it'll open Netflix through the browser and you can view the specific movies and shows available. 5. Tap the title you want to watch and it'll start playing. Finally, if you're comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can use Netflix codes manually in your browser. Here's how: 1. Visit on any PC or mobile browser. 2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore. 3. In another tab, type in but replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code. For instance, will take you to "90-Minute Movies." 4. If done correctly, you'll be taken to Netflix to peruse the titles available in that section. Simply repeat this process the next time you find a code for a Netflix category you'd like to explore. You can do this as many times as you'd like. For more Netflix tips, learn how to get the most out of Netflix on your phone or mobile device and how to improve picture quality on streaming services.
The Verge
11 minutes ago
- The Verge
Epic isn't sure when it will bring Fortnite back to iOS in the UK.
Posted Jul 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM UTC Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Jay Peters Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jay Peters Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Apple Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Fortnite Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All iOS Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Tom's Guide
39 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Pluto TV is streaming 'The Osbournes' for free in honor of Ozzy — here's how to watch
As I'm sure you're aware, the iconic frontman Ozzy Osbourne passed away yesterday. The legendary metal musician had just recently performed his final concert, but it was still a shock when the news was announced. So whether you're a fan like me, who actually got to meet Ozzy at a book signing as a freshman in college, or just someone who wants to see what the Prince of Darkness was all about, Pluto TV has the perfect way to honor the late great singer: binge-watching all four seasons of "The Osbournes." Yes, you read that correctly. Pluto TV is currently airing every episode of the award-winning reality TV show in a day-long marathon. The first run started airing on the MTV Pluto TV channel yesterday (July 22) at 6 p.m. ET and will end today (July 23) at 8:30 p.m. ET. A second run will air this weekend starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 26 to 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 27. But that's not the only way to watch Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack on Pluto TV. Here's how to watch all four seasons of "The Osbournes" for free — from anywhere — on Pluto TV. For those of you who missed the hit reality show when it aired on MTV, here's a quick rundown on "The Osbournes." The show ran from 2002-2005 and was a celebrity reality show that followed around Ozzy and his family: his wife Sharon, his daughter Kelly and his son Jack. It followed them around in their day-to-day lives, and is considered a pioneering show in the reality genre, often credited with launching the celebrity reality subgenre. Of course, like with most reality shows, it's not always completely unscripted. At least, that's what Kelly and Jack have alleged in subsequent interviews. It's not without controversy either. The Osbournes' other daughter, Aimee, was against the show and refused to participate. She is either absent or blurred throughout the four-season run. Ozzy, for his part, never watched the show after its run. He had publicly admitted he was stoned the entire time (h/t Daily Record), and after the show's run, he made the choice to be sober, so he couldn't bring himself to watch it. That's not to say he hated the show or reality TV. In fact, there was a revival series, "Home to Roost," being planned in 2022 for BBC One, but it had failed to materialize prior to Ozzy's death. There are two ways to watch "The Osbournes" on Pluto TV, which is available in several regions, including the U.S., U.K., Australia and Canada. First, Pluto is doing two marathons on its free streaming service live TV channels. The first run started airing on the MTV Pluto TV channel yesterday (July 22) at 6:00 p.m. ET and will end today (July 23) at 8:30 p.m. ET. A second run will air this weekend starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 26 to 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 27. If you're someone that prefers to set their own schedule, though, you can also stream all four seasons of "The Osbournes" on demand via Pluto TV — no account needed. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "The Osbournes" on your Pluto TV app? You can still watch the special thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review. NordVPN deal: FREE $50 / £50 Amazon gift card Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN. ✅ FREE Amazon gift card worth up to $50/£50✅ 4 months extra FREE!✅ 76% off usual price Use Nord to unblock Pluto TV and watch "The Osbournes" live online with our exclusive deal. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up your website or streaming service of choice and tune in just as you would at home. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately: We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
