When MTV viewers were first introduced to Jo Rivera on 16 and Pregnant and the subsequent launch of Teen Mom 2 in 2011, he was an defensive 18-year-old navigating the terrifying, high-stress reality of teen fatherhood. Living under his parents’ roof with his high school girlfriend, Kailyn Lowry, and their newborn son, Isaac (now Elliott), Jo’s early screen time was defined by volatile arguments, emotional immaturity, and a harsh break-up that played out under the harsh glare of reality television.

To early fans, he was easily pigeonholed as a reality TV antagonist. But what followed over the next decade and a half became one of the franchise’s most surprising stories of personal growth.

Jo’s parents

@girlmeetsrealitytv And to this date, Kail says her Ex in-laws were just supportive while the camera were on 🤷‍♀️ #kaillowry#kailandjavi#teenmomog#teenmom#vee#16andpregnant#mtv#realitytv#fyp ♬ original sound – Gigi