Corey Simms is defending his actions, as well as those of his wife Miranda after his ex-wife Leah Messer and Jeremy Calvert bashed them during Tuesday’s Teen Mom 2 Reunion.

After taking to Twitter to defend himself on Tuesday night, Corey released an exclusive statement to The Ashley on Wednesday. In the statement, Corey addressed many of the claims made by Leah and Jeremy during the Reunion, including that he has missed many of his daughter Ali’s doctor’s appointments, and that Miranda doesn’t want anything to do with Corey and Leah’s twin daughters.

“I feel that I am on defense right now because of what was said when all I really try to do is be the best dad I can be to all of my kids,” Corey— who also has daughter Remy with Miranda— told The Ashley. “It felt as it was a personal attack on me and Miranda and it was upsetting.

“I feel that if these issues were so big [then] they should have been handled personally to protect the co-parenting relationship before throwing it out on national TV,” he added.

Corey— who did not attend the ‘Teen Mom 2’ Reunion and tweeted that he was not allowed to Skype in to give his side of the story— talked to The Ashley about the issue of Ali’s doctor’s appointments. During the Reunion, Leah claimed that Corey only attended Ali’s appointments while she was battling him for custody of the twins. In his statement, Corey explained this.