Pam Stepnick, the mother of renowned internet personalities Logan and Jake Paul, has publicly opened up about her allegedly abusive relationship with their father, Greg Paul, in her newly released memoir. Titled 'F*** the Pauls: Written by Their Mother', the book offers a raw and personal account of raising two of the world's most famous digital stars, while delving into the tumultuous dynamics of her past marriage.
Explosive Claims in a Mother's Memoir
In the memoir, Stepnick, a 62-year-old nurse, makes explosive allegations about her ex-husband Greg Paul, a realtor and commercial roofer also aged 62. The couple divorced around 2004, before their sons Logan, now 30, and Jake, now 29, reached the age of 10. Stepnick details how initial cracks in their marriage widened, particularly after a failed business venture involving her godfather and uncle, which she claims led to a significant family rift.
"My family became the price I paid. The big, noisy life full of cousins, aunts, and uncles faded into an eerie quiet," Stepnick wrote. "Soon, it was just me and Greg, locked in our little world. I think that's exactly how he wanted it." She expressed bitterness over the fallout, noting that the feud drove a wedge between them, with each blaming the other for the lack of family support.
Reflections on Marriage and Divorce
Stepnick admitted to marrying too young and for the wrong reasons, citing fear of being alone and a search for safety. "My values didn't align with Greg's, and I should have known that from our first date," she confessed. The problems reportedly intensified after they had children, and when she filed for divorce, Stepnick claimed she was "bullied into 'shared parenting.'"
She reflected that while shared parenting allowed Greg to be a better father, it also, in her view, gave him the opportunity to alienate the children from her and exert emotional control. "Alienating your children from their mother is another form of abuse," Stepnick asserted, urging readers to avoid using children as pawns in adult conflicts.
Allegations of Emotional Abuse and Control
Stepnick accused Greg of blaming her new husband, David Stepnick, for the divorce and spreading false narratives to their sons. "He would tell the kids I was a gold digger and a liar. He told my sons I was having some sort of sordid affair," she alleged, emphasizing that such repeated messages during their childhood were harmful.
Poignantly, she wrote about the broken vows of their marriage, stating, "Even though the ink wouldn't dry on our divorce papers for a few more years, our vows to love and cherish each other were broken." Stepnick concluded that staying in the marriage for the children would have been more traumatic than leaving, as she felt becoming "their father's punching bag" would cause lasting damage.
Context from Past Media Appearances
These claims add context to past public discussions about the Paul family's dynamics. On their one-season reality show, 'Paul American', Greg was confronted by his sons about his parenting style. Logan Paul mentioned that his father was "physical" with them, while Jake used the term "abusive", though Logan hesitated to label it as such due to the word's charged nature.
In response, Greg argued in a separate interview that abuse involves actions "over the top" or done out of anger, distinguishing it from firm discipline. The Independent has reached out to Greg Paul for comment on the new allegations in Stepnick's memoir.
Legacy of the Paul Brothers
Logan and Jake Paul first rose to fame in 2013 through comedy and prank clips on the now-defunct app Vine, later transitioning into professional athletes and building multi-million dollar empires. Their mother's memoir not only chronicles their ascent but also offers advice for parents navigating similar challenges.
'F*** the Pauls: Written by Their Mother' is available now, providing an intimate look at the family behind the internet stardom.
