Yes, Chris Hansen was reported to have cheated on his first wife, Mary Joan Hansen, in 2011. The irony was hard to miss: the man famous for catching predators with hidden cameras was himself allegedly caught on a hidden camera by the National Enquirer while on a date with another woman.
The story became one of the most talked-about tabloid scandals of the year, and it’s still one of the first things people search for when his name comes up. Here’s what actually happened, what Hansen has said about it, and how it shaped the rest of his personal life.
Who Was Chris Hansen Married to at the Time?
At the time of the 2011 scandal, Chris Hansen was married to Mary Joan Hansen, his wife of over two decades. The couple married in 1989 and had two sons together while living in Stamford, Connecticut.
Mary Joan remained largely out of the public eye throughout their marriage, even as Hansen’s fame exploded with To Catch a Predator on Dateline NBC.
What Happened in 2011: The Hidden Camera Sting
In June 2011, the National Enquirer published a report claiming it had secretly filmed Hansen on a date with Kristyn Caddell, a 30-year-old TV reporter for a West Palm Beach NBC affiliate. Hansen was 51 at the time—a 21-year age gap.
According to the tabloid, the footage showed Hansen and Caddell having dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manalapan, Florida, before returning to her Palm Beach apartment for the night. The next morning, they were allegedly filmed leaving together with luggage.
The Enquirer claimed the two had been involved for four months, having met in March through mutual friends. A source told the tabloid there was “an immediate physical attraction” between them.
The Second Mistress: A Vegas Stripper
If the first report wasn’t damaging enough, the Daily Mail followed up in August 2011 with claims that Hansen had also been secretly dating Kathleen Collins, a Las Vegas stripper and aspiring country singer, for about six months.
According to the report, Collins was reportedly shocked to learn—through the press—that her married boyfriend had also been seeing another woman. A friend told the Enquirer, “I know this sounds crazy, but Kathleen really thought she was the only one”.
Collins allegedly told a friend, “Chris cheated on me just like he cheated on his wife.” She reportedly believed Hansen had separated from his wife and was planning to divorce.
Did Chris Hansen Deny the Affair?
Initially, a source close to Hansen told the New York Post that the romance reports were false, saying: “They’ve been friends for a long time, and there’s no truth to this. There was no romantic dinner, and he didn’t stay with her that night”.
However, the Enquirer later posted video footage of Hansen with Caddell, and the story gained significant traction across mainstream outlets including HuffPost, TIME, and People.
The Aftermath: Divorce and a New Chapter
The 2011 scandal didn’t immediately end Hansen’s marriage. He and Mary Joan remained legally married for several more years, though reports suggested they were living separate lives on opposite coasts for a long time.
In June 2018, Mary Joan filed for divorce after nearly 30 years of marriage, citing that the marriage had “broken down irretrievably.” She requested alimony and a fair division of property and debts.
The divorce was finalized in 2020.
In a twist that surprised many, Hansen married his second wife, Gabrielle Gagnon, in November 2021—just about a year after his divorce was finalized. They met at a restaurant in Michigan while having separate dinners with friends.
Why This Story Still Resonates
The Chris Hansen cheating scandal endures for one simple reason: the irony.
Hansen built his entire public persona around catching people in compromising situations using hidden cameras. When the National Enquirer used the same tactic on him, the story practically wrote itself. As TIME noted at the time, the tabloid had “apparently exposed reporter Chris Hansen in the same way he exposes people on his Dateline NBC show”.
For better or worse, the scandal became a permanent part of his legacy—one that’s now being revisited in the upcoming A24 film Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson as Hansen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Chris Hansen cheat on his wife?
Yes, according to multiple tabloid reports from 2011. The National Enquirer claimed to have filmed Hansen on a date with TV reporter Kristyn Caddell while he was married to Mary Joan Hansen. A second report alleged he was also seeing a Las Vegas stripper named Kathleen Collins.
Who was Chris Hansen’s first wife?
His first wife was Mary Joan Hansen. They married in 1989, had two sons together, and divorced in 2020.
Who did Chris Hansen cheat with?
Reports named Kristyn Caddell, a 30-year-old Florida TV reporter, as the primary mistress. A follow-up report also named Kathleen Collins, a Las Vegas stripper, as a second mistress.
Did Chris Hansen ever admit to the affair?
Hansen never publicly confirmed the affair. A source close to him initially denied the reports, calling them false. However, the Enquirer released video footage, and the story was widely reported by mainstream outlets.
Who is Chris Hansen married to now?
Chris Hansen is married to Gabrielle Gagnon. They tied the knot in November 2021.
Did the cheating scandal cause his divorce?
The scandal was widely reported as a contributing factor. Mary Joan filed for divorce in 2018, seven years after the affair reports, and reportedly cited that the marriage had “broken down irretrievably”.
Leave a Reply