‘The Family Chantel’: Chantel’s Parents Reveal Why They Trust Royal’s Wife More Than Pedro
The season 2 premiere of the 90 Day Fiancé spin-off The Family Chantel (featuring Pedro Jimeno, Chantel Everett, and all their in-laws) aired October 12 on TLC. Pedro’s sister Nicole introduced her new boyfriend, Alejandro. In addition, Chantel’s oldest brother, Royal, returned to Atlanta with a new arrival of his own – his new wife, Angenette, from the Philippines.
Angenette and Royal went through the K-1 spousal visa process to bring Angenette to the U.S., just like Pedro and Chantel. But on the season premiere of The Family Chantel, Pedro pointed out the “double standard” in terms of how he was received by Chantel’s parents, Thomas and Karen, as well as her brother, River, and sister, Winter.
The 90 Day Fiancé star admitted he was hurt that Chantel’s family was so against his marriage to their daughter, while they seemed more than ready to welcome Royal’s new wife with open arms.
Chantel thought the dynamic might be different due to Royal’s position among his siblings
After Royal met Angenette on social media and traveled to the Philippines to meet her, Pedro and Chantel immediately noticed a major difference in how Angenette was received by her in-laws.
To Pedro, the favorable treatment Angenette enjoyed was a “double standard” – especially because he and Chantel were much more acquainted with each other than Royal was with Angenette when they tied the knot. The 90 Day Fiancé star pointed out that Royal visited the Philippines just once before proposing to his younger bride. Meanwhile, Chantel visited Pedro in his home country of the Dominican Republic seven times before they ended up getting married.
“I’ve been fighting with your family for four years,” Pedro complained to his wife, adding that he didn’t understand why they were so in favor of Angenette’s marriage to Royal and so adamantly opposed to his relationship with Chantel.
Chantel was sympathetic with Pedro’s concerns. However, she speculated that the dynamic might be different because Royal was the oldest brother in the family.
“Maybe they feel different about their oldest son than they do about their middle daughter,” Chantel wondered.
Chantel’s other brother, River, seemed to agree with that assessment. He told Pedro, “It’s different with my brother. He’s the oldest. He takes the lead, I follow.”
Pedro’s wife lamented that he was the ‘black sheep’
On their way to a surprise birthday party for Royal, Chantel and Pedro continued to discuss the differences in how Pedro’s in-laws treated him in comparison to Royal’s wife.
Chantel tried not to stir the pot and escalate the existing problems between her husband and family even further. Still, she admitted that she, too, noticed the contrast and was hurt by it.
“I do agree that something seems off with the way Pedro and I were received and the way Royal and Angenette are received,” the 90 Day Fiancé star confessed on The Family Chantel. “But I don’t want to cause trouble. I just wish that it would have been different for Pedro and I.”
At Royal’s birthday party, Chantel told her family that Pedro was upset about being “the black sheep,” After all, Angenette and Royal also met online and went through the K-1 visa process.
“She’s had such an easy time adjusting to the family,” Chantel said of Angenette, “while Pedro has worked so hard just to be able to sit in the same room with you guys.”
Chantel’s parents argued that Angenette and Royal were more honest with them
Chantel’s parents told TLC producers that they did, in fact, feel differently about Royal’s marriage to Angenette than they did about Pedro’s marriage to Chantel. But, for Thomas and Karen, it all came down to honesty.
When Pedro and Chantel first arrived in the U.S., they claimed to be dating – not engaged. The couple told Chantel’s parents that Pedro was in the country on a student visa, not a K-1 visa. Meanwhile, Royal and Angenette had always been open about their intentions for marriage.
“When we met Pedro, we met under false pretenses,” Chantel’s mom explained. “When we met Angenette, it was transparent.”
Karen still believed that Pedro had been trying to “use” her daughter, especially when they first met.
“Chantel and Pedro met because his family was shopping around for an American just like you shop around in the grocery store for a loaf of bread,” the 90 Day Fiancé star argued.
According to Thomas, Pedro’s family – who have never approved of Chantel – also played a role. Angenette’s family welcomed Royal into the fold. Their happiness about the marriage made Thomas and Karen want to welcome their own new addition with “open arms” as well.
Chantel’s brother River similarly told 90 Day Fiancé producers that Pedro was probably “jealous” of the difference in his reception in comparison to Angenette. Like his parents, River pointed out that Royal was “upfront” with them from the start. River argued that Chantel and Pedro stirred up suspicions and set off on the wrong foot with the family due to their initial dishonesty.
