When you’ve lived long enough in the orbit of Mark Anthony Stephens, you begin to notice the rhythm. It’s not a rhythm of growth, healing, or responsibility—but one of chaos, deflection, and narrative control. One week he’s the abandoned husband, sobbing publicly about betrayal. The next, he’s the wronged father, wailing about being alienated from his kids. The accusations may change, but the strategy never does: Mark is always the victim.

Lately, he’s swinging with dizzying speed between targeting Tori—his most recent ex—for “cheating,” and accusing Melissa—his ex-wife and the mother of his children—of alienating him from the boys. The truth? He’s not seeking reconciliation or healing. He’s seeking control over the story. Over their story.

When He Targets Tori:

Mark plays the part of the wounded husband. He paints himself as loyal and spiritual—just a man trying to restore his covenant marriage. But this conveniently ignores the restraining order she filed against him, and the fact that their marriage ended not because of infidelity, but because of escalating toxicity, fear, and instability.

Cheating is an easy accusation. It’s emotionally charged, publicly understood, and doesn’t require proof. It allows Mark to deflect attention from his own behavior while punishing Tori socially—especially if she dares to move on with someone new.

When He Targets Melissa:

The script flips to parental alienation. According to Mark, Melissa is the reason he doesn’t have a relationship with his sons. Not the years of emotional manipulation. Not the missed support payments. Not the refusal to participate in therapy, school planning, or medical treatment. Not the emergency no-contact orders filed after he derailed their son’s eating disorder treatment.

Melissa becomes the villain when the courts don’t swing in his favor. When CPS, medical providers, and psychiatrists collectively document his failures, he doesn’t pause to reflect—he reloads and attacks the nearest convenient target.

In the words of Dr. Rao, Liam’s psychiatrist at the Kartini Clinic:
“Liam’s desire for treatment and own understanding of his illness and what he must do to get healthy are diametrically opposed to his father’s.”

What We’re Really Seeing:

We’re witnessing the textbook behavior of a manipulator whose main goal is to control the perception of others. One who treats fatherhood, marriage, and even faith as props in a stage play of sympathy and self-exoneration.

The pendulum of blame doesn’t stop because it’s not meant to.
It keeps swinging because the real goal is to keep people guessing—keep the narrative moving—keep the spotlight.

And Here’s the Most Dangerous Part:

Mark doesn’t just accuse. He broadcasts.
He tells his story to the public, on social media, in videos, and in pseudo-sermons—not to bring peace, but to bring pressure. He admits outright that he is posting to influence his children. That alone should give anyone pause.

The Real Victims

The children, especially Liam and Nathan, are the ones caught in the crossfire. Mark’s constant cycling doesn’t reflect emotional pain—it reflects an emotional strategy.
One that treats people as obstacles to overcome or enemies to expose.
And one that will only end when the story no longer serves him.

Until then, expect more swings.
Expect more posts.
Expect more chaos.

Because for Mark, it’s never about healing—it’s always about control.