Why ‘Bringing Up Bates’ Was Canceled: The Shocking Reason UPtv Pulled the Show

It’s been four years since UPtv canceled Bringing Up Bates and fans are still wondering what happened — and where the family is today. When the reality show premiered in 2015, it followed Gil Bates and wife Kelly Jo Bates as they raised their 19 children “with love, humor and Christian values,” per the logline. As the seasons went on, the family grew with many of the couple’s children welcoming kids of their own.

While fans were gearing up for season 11 of Bringing Up Bates, UPtv surprised everyone by revealing in January 2022 that it had been canceled — even though the episodes were already filmed. Us Weekly confirmed at the time that the network planned to shift its focus to “movies and new scripted series.” Viewers and the Bates family, however, were left in a state of shock. Still, the family told Us in a statement at the time, “God’s timing is always perfect,” and they were “forever grateful” for the experience.

In January 2026, Katie Bates made headlines after news broke that her husband, Travis Clark, had an affair, sparking a revived interest in the reality TV family. Scroll down for everything we know about Bringing Up Bates cancellation and where the family is now:

When Was ‘Bringing Up Bates’ Canceled?

UPtv announced in January 2022 that Bringing Up Bates would not be returning for its planned 11th season the next month.

How Many Seasons Did ‘Bringing Up Bates’ Run?

Bringing Up Bates premiered on UPtv on New Year’s Day in 2015. The series ran for 10 seasons with more than 100 episodes. The final episode aired in June 2021.

What Did UPtv Say About ‘Bringing Up Bates’ Cancellation?

“We will not be premiering Bringing Up Bates season 11 on UPtv as planned as we will be focusing our programming in 2022 on movies and a new scripted series to be announced soon,” the network told Us in a January 2022 statement. “When we premiered Bringing Up Bates, the series was focused on parents with 19 kids who were teenagers and young children. The cameras were there to capture the love, laughs and big life moments, as the family continued to grow. Thank you to Gil and Kelly Jo Bates for welcoming viewers into your family’s home over the past ten seasons.” The network added: “Thank you to the fans who tuned in every Thursday night to be part of the journey. We’re looking forward to continuing to uplift you with our programming in the future.”

Why Was ‘Bringing Up Bates’ Canceled?

While UPtv pointed to its lineup change and network focus as the reason Bringing Up Bates went off air, the timing raised eyebrows with some fans. The cancellation came a few months after Carlin Bates posted a video in November 2021 — and quickly deleted it — that appeared to be racist in nature.

In the video, several family members were playing a game of charades when one person pretended to hold up a gun while another family member yelled, “George Floyd!” as their guess for the clue. After Carlin deleted the video, she claimed she didn’t hear the guess. The video went viral after social media users circulated it with the family receiving backlash for allegedly mocking Floyd’s murder. (Floyd was killed in May 2020 by a police officer who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck while taking him into custody for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 at a deli.) UPtv did not address the controversy and never confirmed whether it was the reason for the end of the TV show.

Did the Bates Family Comment on the Cancellation?

The Bates family chose to look on the bright side of things after news of the show’s abrupt cancellation made headlines. “As the next year begins, our family will be experiencing a lot of new changes. One of the biggest changes for us is that the network will be moving toward producing more scripted family shows and will not be renewing a contract to film new Bringing Up Bates episodes,” the family told Us in a statement at the time. “We realize God’s timing is always perfect, and we are looking forward to what the future holds for our own family, as well as the network!”

The group reflected on the last 10 seasons of Bringing Up Bates, calling the show “an amazing journey for our family.” “We never expected or aspired to be on TV, but we are forever grateful to UP for all of the friendships we have formed as a result,” the January 2022 statement continued. “Filming and opening up our home has been both rewarding and challenging, but there are not enough words we could say to show appreciation for the amazing film crew and all of the staff who have invested so much time into making this show possible.”

The Bates brood noted that the show’s crew and staff have “become family and impacted us forever.” They added, “We are also grateful for all of the encouragement we have received over the years from those who have watched the show and have reached out to message us or pray for us.”

The reality star family concluded by touching on their faith. “Most of all, we are thankful to God for the experiences we’ve shared together as a family and for the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We feel very blessed to have these memories,” they said. “We look forward to the next chapters of life unfolding before us with lots of new adventures. We promise to keep you updated on our lives in the days ahead and pray that God will richly bless each of you. Our greatest desire is that we would each strive to learn more about God and to grow in His grace.”

Where Is the Bates Family Now?

In January 2026, Gil Bates and Kelly Jo Bates announced via Instagram that the birth of their 38th grandchild. Grandson Theodore was born to their son and fourth oldest child, Lawson Bates, and his wife, Tiffany Espensen. (The couple already share son Will.)

The couple’s eldest son, Zachary Bates, and wife Whitney Perkins share five kids. They announced in fall 2025 that they are expecting baby No. 6.
The second oldest child, Michaela Bates, married Brandon Keilen in 2015. They announced in May 2025 that they were officially parents to two foster children.
Erin Bates and husband Chad Paine share seven kids. In September 2025, Erin nearly died after developing a severe UTI and kidney infection that led to septic shock during the birth of the couple’s youngest child, son Henry. She was able to go home the following month.
Nathan Bates, meanwhile, married Esther Keyes in 2021 and they have since welcomed two children.
Alyssa Bates and husband John Webster share five daughters, while Tori Bates and her husband, Bobby Smith, share five sons and they are expecting their sixth in March 2026.
Trace Bates wed Lydia Romeike in 2022 and went on to welcome two children. Carlin Bates and her husband, Evan Stewart, share three children of their own. Josie Bates shares four kids with husband Kelton Balka.
Katie Bates and Travis Clark welcomed two children after tying the knot in 2021. In January 2026, Katie revealed via social media that she suffered a pregnancy loss. Days later, Clark confessed in an Instagram statement that he’d been unfaithful to his wife.
Jackson Bates, for his part, welcomed his first child with wife Emerson Wells in August 2025. The family’s youngest children, Warden, Isaiah, Addallee, Ellie, Callie, Jud and Jeb Bates are all single.