‘Sister Wives’: The Most Horrible Things Kody Brown Has Ever Done

For over a decade, Sister Wives offered viewers an intimate look into the polygamous lifestyle of Kody Brown and his wives. Initially portrayed as a harmonious plural family, the show has unveiled Kody’s controversies and questionable decisions, leading to strained relationships and family discord.

Financial favoritism

Financial management has been a significant source of contention within the Brown family. In 2018, the family invested $820,000 in a property known as Coyote Pass. They intended to build individual homes for each wife. However, when that didn’t pan out, Kody Brown held onto the property instead of selling it, giving Janelle and Meri Brown the money they deserved.

Per The Sun, Kody and his fourth wife, Robyn, purchased a $2.1 million mansion in Flagstaff, Arizona, securing a $1.6 million loan for the acquisition. This decision impacts Meri and Janelle, as the land is their only tie to Kody and by holding onto it as its primary shareholder, delays their moving on from him.

Meanwhile, he and Robyn continue to live a lavish lifestyle in a home complete with expensive artwork, knickknacks, jewelry, and reportedly, over $60,000 in dolls and accessories purchased by Robyn on Etsy. Janelle subsequently told TLC’s cameras she was frustrated over the allocation of family resources.

She admitted that proceeds from the sale of her Las Vegas home were used to assist Robyn in purchasing her house, with the understanding that similar support would be extended to her in the future—a promise that was not fulfilled. Kody’s suggestion that Janelle purchase Christine’s former home, which she was not interested in, further aggravated the situation.

Erosion of trust

During season 1 of Sister Wives, TLC portrayed the Brown family as a cohesive unit. Kody Brown and his wives Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown were reportedly all united for one common goal, to live polygamy.

However, the trust between Kody and three of his wives deteriorated before he spiritually married Robyn. Kody and Robyn’s secrets threatened to split the family apart before she even married into the clan. Kody and Robyn lied about her wedding dress and the fact that she and Kody had a real love affair while he strung his other wives along.

The family’s unity has deteriorated over time. Trust issues continue to come to the forefront.

Meri Brown, Kody’s first wife, disclosed that none of the sister wives are currently communicating. Suspicions about Kody and Robyn’s intentions have led Meri and Janelle to consult lawyers to protect their interests. This highlights the deep-seated mistrust among family members.

The COVID-19 control freak

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic only worsened Kody’s behavior. He used it to further isolate himself with Robyn and her children and ignore the rest of the family.

Kody imposed strict, almost militant COVID-19 rules that he expected all his wives and children to follow. Meanwhile, Kody himself was frequently seen bending those rules when it suited him. He was seen out at dinners with Robyn and officiating and dancing at a friend’s wedding, the latter of which was filmed for season 17 of Sister Wives.

This double standard led to major rifts, particularly with Janelle and her sons, Gabriel and Garrison. Kody’s refusal to visit them or acknowledge their emotional struggles during the pandemic resulted in deep resentment. When Gabe tearfully recounted how Kody forgot his birthday, it became a heartbreaking example of how disconnected he had become from his older children.

Blaming everyone but himself

One of Kody’s most frustrating traits is his inability to take responsibility for the family’s collapse. Instead of acknowledging his role in the dysfunction, he constantly shifts the blame onto his wives and children.

He accused Christine of betraying him for wanting to leave, criticized Janelle for not being obedient enough, and appeared to gaslight Meri into thinking she was the problem. Even as his family fell apart around him, Kody remained in denial, convinced that he was the victim.

As Sister Wives continues, Kody’s reputation as the once-charming polygamist has morphed into a person who appears to be manipulative, selfish, and emotionally detached. His choices have led to the downfall of his family, and yet, he refuses to change. Kody Brown is no longer the leader of a united family; he’s the architect of its destruction.

Sister Wives is currently on hiatus. The remainder of season 19 will air this spring.