Sister WivesstarsKody BrownandMeri Brownonce shared a deep bond, but over the years,that connection has been testedby heartbreak, distance, and tough choices.Kody Brown’s journey onSister Wivesbegan in 2010, showcasing his plural marriage with Meri, Janelle, and Christine.Kody legally married Meri in 1990, then spiritually married Janelle in 1993 and Christine in 1994. The early seasons of the show followed their united family life, moving from Utah to Las Vegas, and later to Arizona. While they faced public scrutiny, Kody and his wives tried to present a supportive, though complex, plural family dynamic.
Over time, cracks appeared.Kody divorced Meri in 2014to legally marry Robyn, his fourth wife, for custody reasons, causing tension. His relationship with Meri faded, especially after a catfishing scandal. Christine left in 2021, citing emotional neglect, and Janelle followed suit in 2022. As of 2025, Kody remains only with Robyn. The show has chronicled these ups and downs, turning into a raw look at thebreakdown of a once-unified polygamist family.Through it all, Meri appears to be the wife Kody hurt the most. Keep reading to discover the key moments that reveal how their relationship unraveled.
6Kody Divorced Meri To Marry Robyn
Kody & Meri’s Complicated Journey
Kody married Meri in April 1990,making her his first legal wife. Over the years, they expanded their family with three additional wives: Janelle in 1993, Christine in 1994, and Robyn in 2010. While Kody was legally married to Meri, his other marriages were spiritual unions, as polygamy is illegal in the United States. This arrangement allowed Kody to maintain multiple relationships while adhering to legal constraints. Their dynamic was featured on the TLC reality seriesSister Wives, which premiered in 2010.
In 2014, Meri agreed to a legal divorce from Kody,allowing him to marry Robyn legally.This decision was made to facilitate Kody’s adoption of Robyn’s three children from a previous marriage, ensuring they had legal rights and benefits within the family. Despite their legal separation, Meri and Kody remained spiritually married, maintaining the foundation of their relationship. Meri expressed that her choice was driven by a desire to support Robyn’s children, emphasizing the importance of family unity over personal emotions.
Following the legal divorce, Meri and Kody’s relationship faced increasing emotional strain. Meri’s 2015 catfishing incident further complicated their bond, leading to feelings of betrayal and distance. Over time, Kody’s focus shifted more towards Robyn, leaving Meri feeling marginalized.In January 2023, after 32 years together,Meri announced their separation, stating that Kody had decided to end their relationship. This marked the conclusion of their long-standing partnership, highlighting the challenges within polygamous marriages.
5Kody Flip-Flopped On His Support Of Meri Over The Catfishing
How The 2015 Catfishing Incident Changed Kody’s View Of Meri
Kody Brown’s reaction to Meri’s 2015 catfishing incident has been notably inconsistent, reflecting a complex and evolving dynamic within their relationship. Initially, Kody appeared supportive, expressing a desire to protect Meri and the family from the emotional fallout. He emphasized the importance of unity and suggested that the catfishing situation was an external threat to their bond. However, as time passed,Kody’s perspective shifted. He admitted to feeling “extremely angry” about the incident and criticized Meri for being in denial about the nature of her online interactions, viewing them as an affair rather than a victimization.
This shift in Kody’s stance contributed to a growing emotional distance between him and Meri. In subsequent seasons ofSister Wives, Kody described the marriage as having “dissolved"following the scandal, indicating a significant decline in their relationship’s intimacy and trust. Despite efforts to address the issues through therapy and open communication, the underlying tensions remained unresolved. Kody’s fluctuating support and theunresolved emotional impact of the catfishingincident played pivotal roles in their eventual separation.
4Kody Melted Down A Wedding Ring Meri Gifted Him
The Wedding Ring That Marked The End Of Their Marriage
Kody melted down the wedding ring Meri gave him when they married in 1990, around the time his relationship with Robyn was becoming more serious. According to Christine, Kody said he did it to break free from any emotional hold Meri still had over him, suggesting he no longer saw value in their connection. He viewed thering as a symbol of control or obligationrather than love. Meri was heartbroken when she found out, feeling it marked the end of their relationship. The act showed how strained their plural marriage had become.
3Kody Didn’t Want Meri To Have Another Child
The Impact Of Family Planning On Kody & Meri’s Relationship
Meri experienced fertility struggles after giving birth to her only child, Leon, in 1995. She had amiscarriage in the mid-2000sand later explored the possibility of IVF and even surrogacy. Robyn Brown offered to be a surrogate, but Kody showed hesitation. During season 4 ofSister Wives, he admitted he didn’t feel strongly about having more children with Meri. His lack of enthusiasm created emotional distance, as Meri still had hopes of expanding their family despite the difficulties they had already faced.
Later in the series, Kody explained that he was ultimately relieved they didn’t pursue more children. He said their marriage had been unhealthy for years, and adding a child into that dynamic wouldn’t have been fair. Meri agreed to some extent, noting their relationship had become strained, andit took five years to conceive Leon.The disagreement over growing their family highlighted deeper cracks in their relationship and became one of the many issues that contributed to their emotional separation and eventual split after more than three decades of spiritual and legal partnership.
2Kody Expected Meri To Be More Like Robyn
Why Meri & The Other Wives Rejected Kody’s Comparisons To Robyn
Kody wanted Meri to be more like Robyn because he felt a special connection with Robyn and hoped all his wives would share that same bond. In a candid interview, he said he wanted to “raise every wife up,” to the same level of“divine love” he experienced with Robyn.However, Meri found this expectation unfair and insisted on her individuality. She said Kody should appreciate each wife for who they are, not expect them to be a reflection or copy of Robyn’s personality and relationship with him.
“I’m sorry, I am Meri. I’m not going to be Robyn.”
Janelle and Christine felt the same way about Kody’s comparisons to Robyn. They thought it was unfair. Janelle said Kody never told them he wanted their relationships to be like the one he had with Robyn. She thinks if he had, things might have turned out differently. Christine agreed andcalled Kody’s story “revisionist history,“saying he never really tried to build the same close bond with them that he had with Robyn.
1Kody Says He’s Friends With Meri, But His Criticisms Keep Coming
Kody’s Contradictory Statements Reveal Lingering Strain With Meri
During the first part of theSister WivesTell All, Kody Brown said he and Meri Brown are still friends despite their rocky past. He shared that they’ve been through a lot over the years and still care about each other. Kody described their current relationship as respectful and focused on open communication for the family’s sake. He wanted fans to know that, even though they’re no longer together,they still share a bondand are trying to stay connected in a positive way.
Although Kody said he and Meri are still friends onSister Wives, he didn’t hold back when pointing out their problems. During theTell All, Kody said Meri was oftenunwilling to change or meet him halfway, which he felt added to their issues. His critical comments made some fans question how genuine the friendship really is. While Kody spoke about respect and care, his frustrations showed there’s still tension. Viewers noticed that his mixed messages made it clear their relationship remains complicated.
