'I was so mad': Bristol Palin reveals 'gut-wrenching' reason for son Tripp's move to Alaska

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Bristol Palin has shared her family's recent emotional challenges following her 15-year-old son Tripp's move away from their Texas home.

The 33-year-old reality star revealed that her teenage son chose to permanently relocate to Alaska to live with his father and Bristol's former fiance, Levi Johnston, 34, along with his stepmother Sunny Johnston, 32, and half-sisters Breeze Beretta, 13, Indy Rae, 8, and Delta Jo, 5.

Bristol Palin reflects on son Tripp's move and emotional impact

"He just texted me and was like, 'Hey Mom. I’m not coming back,'" she reminisced during the August 26, episode of the 'Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans' podcast. "Oh, I couldn’t even believe it. At first I’m like, 'I’m coming up to Alaska, we’re not doing this.' I was so mad. So mad."

The daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who lives with her and her ex-husband Dakota Meyer's daughters—Sailor Grace, 8, and Atlee Bay, 7—stated, "It still is gut-wrenching to me because it’s been just Tripp and I, and then I had my girls, but it’s always been Tripp and I."

She then confessed, "It’s changed the dynamic of so much." The former 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant shared that her nearly 16-year-old son needs his father's presence and believes that moving to live with him is the best choice.

"All I can do is just hope and pray that it is what’s best," she explained.

Bristol has also mentioned that she is contemplating moving to Alaska, where many of her family members live. "Selfishly, I’m just like, I want him with me forever. He’s my best friend. My kids are my whole world," she expressed. "But I can’t be selfish in that."

Bristol Palin opens up about coping with son Tripp's move

On Tuesday, August 27, Sunny Johnston posted a clip on her Instagram Stories showing Tripp in action during an organized football game. Earlier, on August 14, Bristol had shared on Instagram the significant emotional impact of Tripp's decision on her.

"This has been the hardest 'first day of school' yet with one of the biggest pieces of my heart missing," she wrote at the time as per Daily Mail. "Tripp has decided to finish out high school in Alaska to be closer to his dad and our entire family."

Bristol said she was doing her best to cope with the change, and added, "If you know Tripp, you know he lives for hunting/fishing and I honestly can’t blame him for wanting to be back home. As hard as it is has been to come to this decision – it’s truly not about what I want."

"I can’t talk about it yet without crying," Bristol said, "but selfishly praying for a quick year and easy transition for us."

In 2008, Bristol Palin gained national attention during her mother's vice presidential campaign alongside the late Arizona Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate.

Her appearance at the Republican National Convention in September 2008 with Levi Johnston drew significant media attention due to her pregnancy with Tripp at age 17, coinciding with her mother's swift rise to political prominence as McCain's running mate.

Internet ridicules Bristol Palin

Immediately after the Daily Mail released the news, there was a wave of criticism directed at Bristol.

A reader wrote, "Why would you share a personal text from your son to the world for sympathy? Desperate for attention."

Another added, "Narcissistic, attention-seeking mother. She needs to not speak about her son's private decisions in public. Poor kid."

A third commentator remarked, "She seems toxic."

"She is losing more of her son’s respect by talking to every media outlet about it too. I understand why the kid wanted to go back to Alaska at this point. She is selfish and thinking only of herself," one wrote.

A person stated, "It sounds like Bristol was using her son as an emotional crutch and the kid got tired of shouldering the load."

Another user added, "She's the one who moved her kids 3000 miles away from their father. Now she knows just a little of how he feels."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.