Bunnie Xo Defends Standing by Jelly Roll After His Affair: “I Pray You Never Have to Feel That Kind of Pain” — Wife’s Emotional Response to Fan Backlash Goes Viral
Bunnie Xo is speaking from the heart after receiving harsh criticism online for choosing to stand by her husband, country star Jelly Roll, following his admission that he had cheated on her years ago. The podcast host and influencer, who’s built a loyal following for her openness and raw honesty, addressed a fan’s comment suggesting that she should have left Jelly Roll after his confession. Her reply wasn’t angry — it was deeply emotional.
In a TikTok response that quickly went viral, Bunnie shared her perspective on forgiveness, heartbreak, and the complexity of real relationships. “I pray you never have to feel that kind of pain,” she told the fan, her tone calm but heavy with meaning. “I pray you never have to look at the person you love the most and see the worst thing they’ve ever done to you — and still find the strength to love them anyway.”
The couple, who married in 2016, have long been transparent about their journey — the highs, the lows, and the redemption that came with time. Bunnie, whose real name is Bunnie DeFord, has often credited Jelly Roll for standing by her through her own struggles before fame, and she’s now doing the same for him. The cheating revelation resurfaced earlier this year when Jelly Roll, during a candid interview, admitted that he had been unfaithful early in their marriage, during a time when his career and life were spiraling.
“He’s a completely different man now,” Bunnie told fans in a separate Instagram Story weeks ago. “The man who hurt me doesn’t exist anymore — and I fell in love with who he’s become.” That perspective, while admired by many, has also sparked criticism from followers who believe she’s setting a “bad example” by forgiving him. But Bunnie made it clear that her decision isn’t about setting an example — it’s about living her truth.
“You don’t throw away someone who’s changed their life, their heart, their entire soul,” she said. “You don’t abandon someone who’s doing the work to be better. That’s not weakness — that’s love.”
Her comments struck a chord with many fans who shared their own experiences with forgiveness and healing. Thousands flooded the post with messages of support, calling her strength “inspirational.” One user wrote, “It’s easy to judge until you’ve been through something that tests your love to the core.”
Jelly Roll himself has stayed mostly silent amid the renewed attention but reposted a fan’s message thanking Bunnie for being “a light in a world that’s quick to cancel.” The singer has spoken openly about his past battles with addiction, crime, and self-destruction — parts of his life that shaped the man he is today. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” he said in a recent interview, “but the biggest blessing of my life is that she gave me another chance.”
For Bunnie, the public scrutiny seems secondary to the bond they’ve rebuilt behind the scenes. She’s turned the conversation into one about empathy and understanding rather than judgment. “It’s easy to love someone at their best,” she said in her video. “But real love shows up when it’s the hardest.”
Her response is more than a defense — it’s a reminder that relationships, especially those lived in the spotlight, are never as simple as they look online. Forgiveness isn’t a weakness. For Bunnie Xo, it’s proof that love can survive even the deepest pain — if both hearts are willing to heal together.
