Since 2010, Sister Wives has been a staple on TLC. And while the show has had quite a run, it isn’t without a few hiccups. Naturally, there have been a few issues on more than one occasion that led to the Browns being torn apart by egos. As Season 19 starts to wind down, it’s essential to look at where the polygamous family went wrong. And it isn’t hard to find the starting point. Let’s take a look.
Robyn Brown entering the Sister Wives family
Like Robyn Brown or not, she strategically inserted herself into an already established polygamous family. Robyn was first married to David Jessop, but after their divorce in 2007, she set her eyes on Kody Brown. The pair met at a gathering held at Robyn’s cousin’s home. From then on, the duo started dating, and their relationship was captured during Season 1. Almost immediately, fans noticed that Kody treated Robyn differently. He basically made out with her and was late to Christine Brown’s birth of Truly Brown because he was hanging out with his new lady.
As Season 1 continued, Kody was called out for having a lavish wedding while his first three wives were told they were not allowed to do so. It was also upsetting to learn that Kody had helped pick out Robyn’s wedding gown. Resentment and jealousy started to brew among Meri Brown, Christine, and Janelle Brown, which eventually led to fractured relationships. It became clear that Robyn was placed on a pedestal. Robyn was moved into the Utah compound, where she became the neck that turned Kody’s head. Nothing has been the same since.
The Sister Wives move to Arizona
I’ll never understand why Kody felt it was the right move to uproot his family and relocate to Arizona. As Sister Wives viewers will recall, the family escaped in the dead of night from Utah due to fear of Kody being arrested. Over the years, the city of Lehi has denied that they were ever investigating Kody for polygamy, but nonetheless, the family ran to Sin City. At first Las Vegas wasn’t what anyone wanted and the kids were pissed. But the Browns found the perfect cul-de-sac complete with four perfect houses. Everything was great until Robyn wanted to leave.
According to Paedon Brown, the reason behind the move was due to Dayton Brown’s college acceptance to North Arizona University. Paedon shared that the family was looking to move to Utah to be closer to family again. But the star noted, “And I can’t promise anything. I can’t speak toward dad [sic], but the thought of, ‘Hey, Flagstaff, Arizona, is a good place to move,’ does not exist. Like there is no reason,” Paedon said, adding that they have no family in the state. “And then dad decides we’re gonna move the entire family ‘cause Dayton got accepted to NAU. And therefore, Robyn said, ‘Well, I can’t let my little boy go.’ So, she told Dad.” Paedon clarified.“We did not get uprooted for Dayton, we got uprooted for Dad’s favorite wife. If Robyn knew how to clip an umbilical cord, Dayton would have been free.”
The feud with the Sister Wives’ children
The move led to quite a rebellion from the older generation of Brown children. It was a total Jedi vs. Sith moment, with Kody still playing the victim to this day. It all seemed to start during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody set stricter rules than the CDC, and his college-age children were not having it. Many felt Kody and Robyn wanted to stay in their little bubble in order not to have to interact with the rest of the family. And naturally, the kids took it personally. Since 2023, Christine and Janelle have openly spoken about how their children just want a relationship with their dad.
Yet in a Season 17 episode, Kody puts the blame on them. Kody told cameras that, in his opinion, he isn’t “abandoning” his children — they have “betrayed me” by rejecting him. In the same breath, Kody added that his kids “shut him out” and are “colluding against him.” (Only a Sith deals in absolutes.) The patriarch forgets that he added to the mess. Kody has called Maddie Brown the family gossip, refused to show up for Ysabel Brown’s spine surgery, and tried to kick Gabriel Brown out of the house.
All three of these moments helped to crack the foundation of the Browns. Sadly, I don’t think there is a way to come back from it.
Sister Wives is available to stream on TLC.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK OTHER MOMENTS BROKE THE SISTER WIVES CLAN?
