Kody Brown and Jim Bob Duggar Reportedly Exploited Their Families for TLC Fame: Why Was This Allowed?

TLC has a history of featuring families that are presented publicly in one manner but act suspiciously in another. The channel introduced Kody Brown and Jim Bob Duggar as slightly goofy heads of their supersized families. Both the Duggar and Brown families skyrocketed to fame in 19 Kids and Counting and Sister Wives. As seemingly nefarious sides of the men began to emerge, why did TLC continue to give them a platform and the huge paychecks that went with it?

Why did TLC give Kody Brown and Jim Bob Duggar public platforms?

Both 19 Kids and Counting and Sister Wives were juggernauts for TLC. The Brown and Duggar families became wildly popular as viewer interest in these supersized clans peaked.

However, both Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown reportedly ruled their families with iron fists. They allegedly utilized tactics such as binding family contracts to keep their profitable reality TV careers going.

The Duggar family’s conservative views and religious beliefs were a main draw for viewers. Jim Bob’s family were members of the IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principes)  and Kody Brown’s family was aligned with the AUB (Apostolic United Brethren). But faith began to take a backseat to some of the men’s more questionable methods of keeping their families in line so TLC money continued to flow. 

So why did TLC continue to give Kody and Jim Bob platforms? Because their shows were wildly profitable for the network. 

Jim Bob’s 19 Kids and Counting was a ratings winner until the series was canceled in 2015 after reports surfaced that Josh allegedly inappropriately touched his sisters when he was 14 years old. Sister Wives continues to dominate its time slot on TLC as the series continues its 19th season.

19 Kids and Counting was one of TLC’s most-watched shows. It pulled in 3.2 million viewers per episode. Sister Wives typically pulled in 2 million viewers for each installment. That’s a lot of money for TLC and the Duggar and Brown families, who profited off viewer interest. 

TLC’s Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown have a similar motivation

Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown similarly appeared to be enamored by the lure of a big network payday. Both men realized that reality TV stardom was better than scraping by financially to provide for their supersized clans.

Jill Duggar wrote in her book Counting the Cost that before reality TV fame, the Duggar family lived in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house and subsided on canned beans, ramen noodles, and frozen burritos. 

Her sister Jinger agreed with her sister’s claims of food insecurity. Jinger alleged on The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast that her siblings would eat their food in the bathroom for fear another sibling would consume it.

One of the Brown family’s children also spoke out about food insecurity. In a video for the couple’s Patreon, Mykelti Brown discussed this element of her childhood.

“So back in Wyoming, my family, my dad’s dad owned a ranch, and on their ranch was a bakery. One of the things that we ate a lot, was the discards from the bakery. It was the ‘day olds,’ the stuff they couldn’t sell. That’s a lot of what we grew up on as well as MREs or ready-to-eat meals.”

Both men reportedly financially abused their children by not paying them for their appearances in the series. The money their shows generated, well into the millions of dollars, were held in family LLCs. Kody and Jim Bob controlled the finances but reportedly didn’t share the wealth.

Jill Duggar successfully sued her father for the money she was owed for appearing on 19 Kids and Counting and Jill and Jessa: Counting On. Thus, none of the Brown children have sued Kody for back payment for their appearances on Sister Wives.

TLC canceled Jim Bob Duggar, is Kody Brown far behind?

After allegations that Josh Duggar molested his sisters, TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting. However, to keep the Duggar train rolling, the series was rebranded as Jill and Jessa: Counting On and Josh Duggar did not appear in the series.

In 2021, Josh was arrested on charges relating to child pornography. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison and the family spinoff show was subsequently canceled.

Thus far, Sister Wives remains a profitable series for TLC. There have never been any accusations similar to that of the Duggar family within the Brown clan.

However, Kody Brown has acted questionably in the series toward wives Meri, Janelle, and Christine Brown. His behavior could be considered emotionally abusive toward these women and their children.

In a reaction video on her Patreon, Kody’s daughter Gwendlyn Brown alleged Kody was “physically abusive” to her as a child by spanking her. She said, “And I know some of you may disagree that spanking is abuse, and it is.”

She concluded, “It is an excessive way to discipline your children, and there are better ways that won’t leave them emotionally scarred. I remember personally being bruised a few times when my dad would spank me.”

So despite a fractured family and questionable behavior, Kody Brown remains very much a part of TLC. Whether he meets the same fate as Jim Bob Duggar remains to be seen.

Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.