Gardner did not have many positive male role models as a child, as his father was living in Louisiana during his birth, and his stepfather was physically abusive to his mother and his siblings.
Он не знал положительной роли мужчин, так как бросивший его отец, Томас Тёрнер (), жил в Луизиане, а его приёмный отец, Фредди Триплетт (), был жестоким человеком.