Chris Hansen, who inspired 'Primetime', had a four-month affair with reporter Kristyn Caddell while he was still married. However, he claimed that his marriage was 'filled with misery.'
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleTelevision journalist Chris Hansen has been in the spotlight ever since the release of A24’s new psychological thriller, Primetime. The film portrays Robert Pattinson in the role of the former To Catch a Predator host as it revisits the height of Hansen’s time on the show and the controversial sting operation that turned confrontation into a primetime spectacle.
Amid the release of the film, many have become curious to know about Chris Hansen's personal life. While the journalist was married to his wife, Mary Joan, it was his affair with Kristyn Caddell that became a major talking point among those who used to watch To Catch a Predator.
After Chris Hansen was exposed for having an affair with TV newswoman Kristyn Caddell, she opened up about the negative impact it had on her life and her career. In an open letter published in National Enquirer, she claimed that he had lied to her about his marriage to his then-wife, Mary Joan, being “filled with misery and on the verge of disarray.” He even lied to her about the wedding ring on his finger, as Kristyn shared:
“Chris told me a divorce was inevitable and the wedding ring on his finger was all but for show.”
At the time of their affair, Chris Hansen's former mistress never doubted that he truly meant it when he said he was leaving his wife and two kids. Apart from his words, Chris’ behavior also played a major role in why Kristyn Caddell believed him. For instance, she said that he would have their photographs taken together in public and also speak with her family on the phone. Kristyn recalled:
“Chris was flying me all over the country; putting us up in the finest hotels; having dinner and mingling with many of his colleagues; having our photographs taken together in public places; he would even speak with my family on the phone.”
But despite his words and actions, in reality, Chris Hansen had no intention of leaving Mary Joan, his devout and loyal wife. Chris and Mary tied the knot in 1989. It was Mary who filed for divorce from the journalist in 2018, stating that there were no chances of reconciliation between them. The divorce was eventually finalized in 2020.
Meanwhile, Chris Hansen's former mistress, Kristyn, emphasized in her open letter that her intention was not to harm anyone. But her affair with Chris Hansen, which went on for four months, had led her to be turned down by at least a dozen market news stations.
Kristyn was initially a reporter for WPTV-Channel 5 in Florida when she first met Chris in the VIP area at a Blue Martini Lounge in Palm Beach in March 2011. She hoped that her honesty after speaking out in the open letter would lead to new job opportunities. She wrote:
“I don't wish harm on Chris, yet our affair has essentially destroyed my professional career.”
Chris Hansen’s affair with Kristyn Caddell came to the forefront when the former was secretly filmed on an illicit date with her. What made matters worse was that Chris, who had made a name for himself by catching would-be internet sex perverts in televised stings, was 22 years older than his mistress. The duo was caught going on a romantic dinner at the exclusive Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, before they spent the night at Kristyn’s apartment.
A source at the time told National Enquirer that “there was an immediate physical attraction” between Chris Hansen and Kristyn when they first crossed paths. The source added, “Chris and Kristyn got on so well that she ended up going back to his room at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach - and later boasted to pals about staying the night with him.”
What are your thoughts on Chris Hansen’s affair with Kristyn Caddell? Let us know.
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