On the TLC reality show “Sister Wives,” we get a better idea of what a polygamous relationship is really like. According to its official website, “At first glance, the Browns are a typical big American family, but as patriarch Kody explains; 'I fell in love, fell in love again, and then again, and then again.'"
Kody is none other than Kody Brown, the patriarch of the family. Today, he has four wives – Janelle, Christine, Meri, and Robyn. And together, the women have 18 children with Kody. In Sister Wives, viewers get to see the Brown family’s everyday life as they face issues with finances, living arrangements, and everything in between.
At the moment, the show has already aired as many as 14 seasons. However, we do think there are some thing you probably never know about the show. Here are some behind-the-scene secrets that we have learned:
15 Kody Faced Bigamy Charges In Utah
It seems that the law wasn’t understanding of Kody and his family’s circumstance. Back in 2010, authorities subjected Kody to an investigation to see if he was in violation of Utah’s bigamy laws. According to Today, the family released a statement saying, “When we decided to do this show, we knew there would be risks. But for the sake of our family, and most importantly, our kids, we felt it was a risk worth taking.”
14 The Investigation Into Kody And His Family Was Eventually Dropped
At one point, authorities in Utah decided that it wasn’t worth pursuing a case against Kody and his polygamous family. In fact, Scott Troxel, the spokesman for the Utah attorney general’s office, issued a statement saying, “It has been our office's position not to pursue cases of bigamy between consenting adults. We want to use our resources wisely.”
13 Kody Divorced One Wife So He Could Marry Another
Back in 2015, Kody had to divorce his legal wife, Meri, so that he would be able to legally marry one of his other wives, Robyn. Despite being in an openly polygamous relationship, it turns out that Brown can only be married to one wife at a time in the eyes of the law.
12 Kody Divorced Meri Because He Favored The Youngest Wife
According to a report from TMZ, “He married Meri before meeting any of the other women, but we've learned he decided he no longer wanted her as the official wife.” Following the divorce, Meri said in a video clip, “He married Meri before meeting any of the other women, but we've learned he decided he no longer wanted her as the official wife.”
11 It Is Reported That Kody Married Robyn For The Sake Of Her Children
By the time that Robyn got into a relationship with Kody, she already had children from a previous marriage. And so, marrying Robyn legally meant that Kody could adopt them. According to some sources, this was why Kody decided for the two of them to legally tie the knot. However, others believe that Kody favored her over the other wives.
10 Following Their Divorce, Meri Got Catfished Online
From the looks of it, Meri was incredibly devastated following her divorce from Kody. And even as she decided to remain in a polygamous relationship, it also emerged that Meri engaged in an online affair. Unfortunately, the relationship turned out to be a catfishing scam that aimed to embarrass and exploit Merri.
9 Kody Once Failed To Pay Taxes
Kody suffered a serious tax debt after he moved his entire family from Nevada to Arizona. In fact, the Coconino County Treasurer's Office in Arizona has claimed that Kody, Robyn, and Christine owe as much as $2,0563.70, and that the payment had been due on December 31, 2018. According to a report from Radar Online, there is also some money owed from their Arizona property.
8 The Family Was Forced To Sell Janelle’s Home At A Discounted Price
Apparently, polygamous relationships can result in you becoming broke. According to a report from Radar Online, the family was forced to slash the price of Janelle’s home by $25,000 after Kody’s personal appearance failed to attract any bids. During a trailer for their show’s 14th season, Christine also remarked, “Financially, we’re drowning.” Fortunately, the homes eventually sold.
7 Kody Never Legally Married Christine Or Janelle
Because Kody was once married to Meri and now married to Robyn, you may have expected him to have been previously married to Janelle and Christine too. Surprisingly, however, that is not the case. According to reports, Kody was never legally married to either women. It is also unclear if he plans to marry them some day.
6 Meri Has Made Cryptic Posts Seemingly About Her Relationship With Kody
It’s become clear that Meri was left heartbroken following her divorce from Kody. In recent times, however, she seems to be over Kody somewhat. In 2017, Meri tweeted the quote, “THERE COMES A POINT WHEN YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT YOU'LL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR SOME PEOPLE. THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT YOUR PROBLEM OR THEIRS?”
