Kody Brown Opens Up About Estrangement From Most of His Kids

Kody Brown has publicly acknowledged a deep rift with most of his children, admitting he’s alienated from 90 to 95 percent of them, according to Janelle Brown ^[1]. Despite remaining close with Robyn Brown’s adult children—Dayton, Aurora, Breanna, Solomon, and Ariella—Kody insists the estrangement stems not from personal failure but from the dissolution of his marriages to their mothers. He argues the family’s pain was a shared experience, not an individual one.

Kody, who chose not to return for the 21st season of Sister Wives alongside Robyn, emphasized his willingness to listen: "Dad, you did this, you did this, you did this." He says he’s ready to hold space for his children’s pain ^[1].

Meanwhile, Janelle Brown, 57, opened up on the latest episode of Sister Wives, reflecting on her 30-year marriage to Kody. She said their relationship lacked a solid identity as a couple, always prioritizing the family over their bond. "I didn’t spend enough time thinking about my relationship with him one-on-one," she recalled ^[2].

Janelle cited Kody’s increasing control over her children—especially during the pandemic—as a turning point. "That’s when all of a sudden I’m like, ‘OK, I don’t know if I can do this anymore,’” she said, calling the marriage a "burden" ^[2].

She also admitted dating now feels like "so much work," revealing she’s found peace with a new boyfriend, Pete, whom she announced in August ^[2].

Christine Brown left Kody in November 2021, Meri Brown divorced him in January 2023, and Kody and Robyn remain married despite exiting the show. Christine married David Woolley in October 2023, and Meri has been dating since her split ^[2].

Kody’s relationship with Christine’s daughter Mykelti Padron has also strained, as she now struggles with how Kody treated her siblings ^[1].

The show continues to air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC ^[2]. The story was first reported by E! News and Us Weekly.