‘Sister Wives’: Robyn Brown Came to Kody Brown’s Rescue After Hot Seat Question Over Being a ‘Good Dad’ in 2011
The stars of TLC’s Sister Wives got the hot seat treatment from Anderson Cooper in 2011 during his now-defunct daytime talk show. Cooper tried to get Kody Brown to answer if he was a “good dad.” But Robyn Brown stepped in to rescue Kody from sticking his foot in his mouth by deflecting the question.
Kody Brown was called out for lack of parenting skills
Just one year after Sister Wives debuted, Kody Brown’s parenting skills were already being put under a microscope. The family appeared on Anderson Cooper’s daytime talk show to discuss the series in 2011.
One of the questions on Anderson Live was “Can you be a really good dad to 17 children?” Kody didn’t have time to respond because Robyn Brown jumped in to deflect from the line of questioning.
Robyn answered, “This is what’s so strange. Everybody likes to place their perception of the world onto us. What they don’t see is Kody is there all the time. You don’t get that even in a regular home setting; you don’t get a dad that’s always present.”
But Anderson pressed his question to Kody, ignoring Robyn’s deflection. “How can you be present for 17 children?” Kody soon became defensive and his demeanor changed.
He answered, “I’m not there for every moment of their lives, but I don’t know very many parents who are. When I can I put every effort into it.”
Kody’s adult children have criticized him out for not being present
Kody Brown has faced criticism from several of his adult children for his parenting. Many of these moments have played out on-screen, in interviews, and on social media, giving fans a glimpse of family tensions.
Sons Gabriel and Garrison were among Kody’s most vocal critics, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody’s strict rules and decision to prioritize spending time at Robyn Brown’s house over their mother, Janelle’s, caused a deep family rift that played out on camera.
Ysabel Brown, Kody’s daughter with Christine, faced his disinterest when he refused to travel to her scoliosis surgery, citing COVID-19 risks. In the aftermath, Ysabel shared her disappointment during a confessional, stating that Kody’s decision made her feel like she wasn’t a priority.
Mykelti, Christine’s daughter, admitted on her Patreon account that Kody often spread his attention thin among his children. Paedon, Kody’s son with Christine, alluded to Kody being overly focused on Robyn and her children, leaving the rest of the family feeling neglected during an interview.
While she hasn’t explicitly called Kody out by name, Maddie Brown made comments directed toward Kody’s perceived favoritism on social media. For example, Janelle’s daughter has liked and shared posts that criticize parents for neglecting certain children or playing favorites.
Kody Brown’s kids felt like he left them for his favorite wife on ‘Sister Wives’
During season 19 of Sister Wives, Janelle Brown’s son, Gabriel, called out Kody Brown for his inconsistent parenting. An interaction between mother and son highlighted some of the many problems they’ve experienced since Kody pulled back from interacting with their family.
Janelle admitted, “Kody really has not had much contact with my children since everything went down with COVID. After it, we still couldn’t reconcile as a family because Kody felt the boys needed to give an apology to him and especially to Robyn.”
Gabriel revealed to his mother that Kody had texted him, “I miss you” but kept phrasing his texts as if Gabe had to apologize. In return, Gabe told his father that unless he wanted to fix things, “we’re not gonna talk anymore.”
Janelle agreed with her son, saying that the coronavirus (COVID-19) just presented Kody the opportunity to do what he wanted all along. That was to be with his “favorite wife.”
Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
