If Sister Wives Season 19 and its Tell-Alls have taught us anything, it’s that the cracks in the Brown family’s foundation weren’t just about plural marriage. They were about favoritism, misaligned priorities, and a courtship that never quite played by the same rules. At the center of most of the drama was Kody Brown and Robyn Brown’s romance. Looking back, their relationship felt a little too intense and more than a little inappropriate given the plural marriage context. The other wives saw it. Viewers saw it. And now, thanks to some recent confessions, it’s clear: the way Kody and Robyn kicked off their love story might’ve been the beginning of the end for the Brown family.
Janelle Brown reveals she should have dated Kody longer
In a recent Tell-All moment that hit hard, Janelle Brown opened up about her early days with Kody. And let’s just say, she’s got a few regrets. The mother of six told viewers, “If I had a year with Kody, I’m not sure I would have married him, honestly.” The Sister Wives star revealed to host Sukanya Krishnan, “I might have seen him for a little bit more of who he was, you know what I mean? Gotten sort of off the charm ride.” For Janelle, who’s always been the pragmatic one, this was a rare moment of emotional honesty. And it pointed to a deeper issue that’s haunted the family for years. As TLC fans know, not all the wives were given the same time, energy, or relationship investment from Kody.
But as usual, Janelle took the high ground. She added, “Regardless, I don’t need to go back and trash everything that was. If I were to say, ‘Oh, I’m really sorry I did all that,’ would I be in this great place?” Janelle’s reflection wasn’t just about her own marriage. It was a subtle reminder that Kody didn’t treat all his relationships equally from the jump. And that imbalance? It planted the seeds for the resentment that eventually tore the family apart and led to three divorces.
Kody courted Robyn Brown for too long
Let’s talk about that courtship. When Kody met Robyn, he was already married to three women and managing a very full household in Lehi, Utah. However, instead of maintaining a balanced and respectful approach, he plunged headfirst into his romance with Robyn, leaving the rest of the family waiting. During Season 1, fans watched as their courtship dragged on for months, filled with long-distance visits, flirty phone calls, and that infamous kiss before marriage that had the other wives feeling blindsided. The time and attention Kody poured into Robyn was excessive.
In the recent Tell-All, Janelle pointed out that Kody “had a very long courtship compared to the rest of us. It is not really appropriate for a married man to have a long courtship.” She noted the pair “actually courted, I think, for almost a year.” There were moments that stood out. Like when Christine Brown was at home dealing with pregnancy, and Janelle was working full-time to support the family. But instead of lending support, Kody was off making googly eyes and building a new relationship that felt more monogamous than plural. Kody wasn’t just falling in love. He was shifting his entire focus to one woman, while still expecting everyone else to play happy plural family.
Robyn Brown knows she is the favorite wife
For years, Robyn played ignorant about being the favorite. She insisted she loved all the wives, wanted the family to work, and didn’t want special treatment. But in the most recent Tell-All, she finally said the quiet part out loud. And just like that, decades of tension were validated. Her admissions surrounded the luggage rack. It seems that when traveling, Kody would always take it for himself. But not when it came to Robyn. She got the infamous luggage rack all to herself. When asked why she was the first wife to have this privilege, she answered, “Maybe I put my luggage up there first, I don’t know. It’s not, like, a big thing.”
But for the first three wives and Sister Wives viewers, this was a big indication of what they already knew. Robyn knows she gets a different Kody. She gets the birthday gifts, the Valentine’s Day affection, and the consistent presence for her children. And while she’s always claimed to want unity, she’s clearly benefited the most from the family’s unraveling. The problem isn’t just that Robyn’s the favorite. It’s that she’s been the favorite while pretending not to be. Now, with the other wives gone and the family system officially collapsed, it’s impossible to ignore: Kody made his choice a long time ago.
Sister Wives is available to stream on TLC.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK KODY COURTED ROBYN DIFFERENTLY?
