Kody Brown Admits to "Unhealthy Relationships" in Reflective Sister Wives Confessional.
Kody Brown, 55, star of TLC's Sister Wives, opened up about his past marriages to Christine, Janelle, and Meri, revealing his lack of awareness regarding the unhealthy dynamics in those relationships. In a confessional aired on October 20, Kody reflected on the physical intimacy that characterized these unions, stating, "I found myself in unhealthy relationships but was reluctant to let them go. I didn’t want to end them."
Kody Brown elaborated that many individuals in "bad" relationships often remain oblivious to their circumstances until they experience healthier connections. He remarked, "You might think you're in a typical relationship because all your friends are facing similar issues, until you experience a truly healthy relationship filled with deep emotional connection instead of constant conflict." This likely referenced his ongoing marriage with Robyn Brown.
He further explained the pitfalls of his previous relationships, humorously referring to the cycle of fighting and physical intimacy. "Some folks refer to it as F&F, where the second word is fight. That doesn't foster intimacy, it merely leads to physical pleasure." Kody acknowledged that his marriages to Christine, 52, Janelle, 55, and Meri, 53, were problematic and admitted that he should have ended his relationship with Meri, which has faced challenges since their marriage in 1990.
Reflecting on his past, Kody Brown noted, “How would I know that? It’s because I had a much stronger connection with Janelle, Christine, and Robyn, while Janelle and Christine's relationships didn’t last.” Christine was the first of Kody’s wives to leave him in November 2021, followed by Janelle in December 2022. Speculation about Meri's departure also circulated in December 2022, but she confirmed their separation in January 2023.
In a recent episode, Meri sought a formal release from her marriage to Kody, describing it as "essentially like a divorce." She expressed the emotional difficulty of the conversation, stating, “This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t what I envisioned when I married Kody.” Despite the change, she noted that their spiritual bond remained intact until her request was granted, which allowed Kody to marry Robyn in 2014.
Meri emphasized her commitment to her vows, explaining that her release meant they were no longer bound "together for eternity." She acknowledged that her release was granted “on the grounds of abandonment,” a point Kody disputed, stating, “They said they’d give Meri a release, a divorce due to abandonment, but I just don’t believe that’s accurate. She was never abandoned.”
Kody's candid reflections highlight the complexities of his relationships and the challenges faced within plural marriages, as viewers continue to witness the evolution of his family dynamics on Sister Wives.
Sister Wives is an American reality TV series on TLC that premiered on September 26, 2010. The show follows the life of Kody Brown, a polygamist, along with his wife Robyn and ex-wives Meri, Janelle, and Christine, as they navigate their unique family dynamics and raise their 18 children. The series offers an intimate look into their relationships, challenges, and the complexities of a polygamous lifestyle.
