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Sister Wives fans aren’t so sure about some of the company Kody Brown keeps. The polygamist has friends in his circles who also practice polygamy, and one of those friends has faced some frightening accusations from one of his ex-wives. Kyle Henderson, the friend in question, allegedly subjected his wife, Nicole Van Tassell Henderson, to a variety of forms of abuse, and even threatened to cut her throat. When it came time for Kyle to stand trial, Kody Brown served as a character witness. Now, Sister Wives fans are feeling disturbed and concerned.

Utah law changes in favor of Kody Brown, polygamy

Sister Wives star Kody Brown has been jockeying to change marital law for polygamists in Utah for quite some time. Now, it seems as if Brown has gotten his wish. 

In February, a bill that aims to reduce the criminality of polygamy for adults who consent to the relationship was passed. This changed the possible punishment for plural marriage from up to five years in prison to a possible $750 fine and community service. 

Kody Brown and his wives have been working together to change the Utah law on polygamy for a while now. They’ve discussed it openly on Sister Wives, and Brown and his family marched in the Salt Like City “March for Liberty” to support changing the polygamy laws. 

Deidre Henderson, Utah Senator, said of the bill, “Branding all polygamists as felons has facilitated abuse, not eliminated polygamy.”

Allegations against Kyle Henderson

Kody Brown (C) and his wives, (L-R) Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, Meri Brown and Robyn Brown of Sister Wives
Kody Brown (C) and his wives, (L-R) Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, Meri Brown and Robyn Brown of Sister Wives | Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

While Kody Brown and his wives may be celebrating their new status in Utah, fans are angry to see Kyle Henderson on the show. Henderson is Brown’s friend, and also a polygamist. However, Henderson has a very checkered past, including intense allegations of physical abuse coming from one of his ex-wives. 

Nicole Van Tassell Henderson, Kyle’s ex-wife, escaped her marriage with Henderson following a variety of abuses. The two married when she was 18. A month into their marriage, she asked Henderson to cuddle with her. She told ABC4 Utah, “He kind of threw me against the wall. He said ‘I cannot wait until you have a baby so you smother it instead of me.’”

She added, “I was chattel, and he told several people he was just gonna keep me barefoot and pregnant and get as many kids out of me as he could. I had 15 children in 19 years…13 living. You’re not supposed to do that.”

Additionally, Henderson has pleaded no contest on several abuse claims against him, several of which took place in front of their children. Things escalated as time wore on, culminating in an incident where Kyle Henderson told his wife to cut her own throat as “blood atonement.”  

Nicole told ABC Henderson found out that she received a text message from a male high school friend. She said, “He asked me to cut my throat as a blood atonement in front of my children to say that was the only way I could repent from texting this other man and be forgiven, and disembowel myself…and he said that in front of my children. And that was the only way I could repent and be forgiven in the celestial kingdom.”

What’s more, Nicole claims that Henderson once beat her so badly she was bed bound for a week.

Kody Brown defended Kyle Henderson, ‘Sister Wives’ fans react  

Janelle Brown, Kody Brown and Christine Brown of Sister Wives
Janelle Brown, Kody Brown and Christine Brown of Sister Wives | Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic
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Sister Wives fans were dsiturbed to learn that Kody Brown stood up for Kyle Henderson in court as a character witness. Brown has consistently argued that there’s no abuse in the polygamist lifestyle, or that it’s an unusual occurrence. 

One Redditor wrote, “I used to work with abused children. Character witnesses mean nothing! Horrible things happen behind closed doors that others living within the house don’t even know about. It’s disgusting how often people will support the abuser while no family members sit behind the poor child (or in this case, adult victim), but doctors and nurses can defend the victim with proof of abuse.”

“Yeah, I think this is a TLC problem. There was another wife abuser on 90df, ruined the show for me. They continue to give these assholes a platform,” opined another user.

“They are probably trying to make Kody look better to keep the show going since he is such a piece of trash. Putting Kody next to an abuser Kody instantly gains a few points,” suggested another Redditor. 

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