Sister Wives: 8 Ways Fans Blame Kody For Ruining His Family (Garrison’s Passing Is A Tragedy)

After the tragic, untimely death of Sister Wives star Garrison Brown, many on social media are blaming his father, Kody Brown, for the dissolution of the Brown family. When the series first premiered in 2010, Kody was married to his first three wives: Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, and Christine Brown. Season 1 chronicled the lives of the Brown family as Kody courted and ultimately married Robyn Brown, his fourth wife.

It had been 16 years between Kody marrying his third and fourth wives, so when Robyn entered the picture, the long-time status quo was completely upended. Complicating family life even further, the Browns moved from their shared home in Utah to separate homes in Las Vegas, then Arizona. With the family already divided, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic shattered what little remained of their family unity. With Sister Wives season 19 just around the corner, Kody finds himself in an accidental monogamous relationship with Robyn while also mourning the death of his son.

8
Kody Brown Shouldn’t Be Blamed For Garrison Brown’s Passing
But Some Fans Seem To Blame Him

On March 5, 2024, 25-year-old Garrison was found dead by a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona. Later that day, Kody posted a tribute to his son on Instagram, writing, “Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown.” In a message posted word-for-word by multiple Brown family members, Kody added, “He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. Our loss will leave such a big hole in our lives, that it takes our breath away.”

“LET THE MAN GRIEVE! HE JUST LOST HIS SON!!!”

Though the comment section under that particular post is locked, some Instagram users are going back to older posts, leaving unkind comments for Kody. Though fans are hurting and are upset, it’s important to remember that Kody is mourning the loss of his son and deserves empathy at this time. Thankfully, there are many comments defending Kody, with one user writing in all capital letters, “LET THE MAN GRIEVE! HE JUST LOST HIS SON!!!”

7
Fans Think Kody Brown Preferred Robyn Brown
The Favorite Wife

Kody’s favoritism of Robyn is widely seen as the catalyst for the ultimate dissolution of the Brown family. On January 10, 2023, Kody posted an Instagram message about his split from his first wife, Meri. After Garrison’s sad passing, fans have gone back to this message to accuse Kody of favoring Robyn. One fan wrote, “The manipulation of his last wife ruined the family,” while another concurred, writing, “He said he didn’t play favourites then in the last tell all then said Robyn was his favourite.”

6
Sister Wives Viewers Believe That Kody Favored Robyn Brown’s Kids
Playing Favorites?

Fans often accused Kody of favoring Robyn’s kids, an accusation supported when Kody divorced Meri to legally marry Robyn so he could adopt Robyn’s two children. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kody refused to see his older children so he could protect his kids with Robyn, especially the two youngest. Though Kody was concerned about the virus, fans felt there were other ways to protect the younger kids without shunning the oldest, like Garrison.

“I think that my dad and Robyn have a terrible habit of spending very crazy and like, not, within their means at all.”

5
Fans Think Kody Brown Spends More Money On Robyn & Their Kids
And His Daughter Agrees

Gwendlyn Brown posted a YouTube video slamming her dad’s spending habits. Gwendlyn is Kody’s 22-year-old daughter with his third wife, Christine, and is currently mourning Garrison’s death. While answering fan questions, she said, “I think that my dad and Robyn have a terrible habit of spending very crazy.” Gwendlyn went on to say, “Janelle and Meri are kind of similar to my mom and that they’re not gonna be salty or petty and try to take money from him even though they totally deserve it because he’s been spending all of their money.”

” […] even though they totally deserve it because he’s been spending all of their money.”

4
Some Fans Had Issues With Kody Brown’s Strict COVID Avoidance Rules
Social Distance Divided The Family

Kody had a great relationship with his children until the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody and Robyn were terrified of the virus and enacted strict mitigation rules that Kody’s adult children couldn’t follow, especially Garrison and Gabriel Brown. Things got so contentious that Kody stopped seeing his adult kids entirely. On Kody’s September 29, 2021, Instagram post of the Brown family land at Coyote Pass, one fan commented, “You may not have been able [to] reconnect with Garrison but please take this time and mend your broken relationship with your other children especially Gabriel. He needs you more than ever right now.”

3
Kody Brown Asked The Wives To “Conform To Patriarchy”
It Didn’t Go Over Well

After Christine decided to leave Kody in 2021, Kody said, “I’m going to be the head of my household again.” He added that he wants to know “if everybody’s willing to conform to patriarchy” and insisted that he has been fighting to make his wives happy, which many find laughable. The look on Janelle’s face when he asked everyone to respect the patriarchy said it all. In the end, Kody wasn’t able to enforce the patriarchy as two more of his wives, Janelle and Meri, followed suit.

2
Sister Wives Fans Think Kody Brown Was Mean To Meri Brown
Meri Should Have Been The Favorite

Kody was often unkind to Meri, saying he wasn’t attracted to her or that he never loved her. Meri was not Kody’s favorite wife, but she certainly was the favorite of many Sister Wives fans, who continue to support Meri. On March 9, Meri posted an Instagram photo of her mother on the anniversary of her death.

Fans took to the comment section, with one fan writing, “Your mom is looking after Garrison and giving her grandson a hug for you all.” Another concurred, “I’m sure she was there welcoming Garrison and her spirit is with all of you giving you comfort.”

“I don’t have sons. They’re all dead to me.”

1
Sister Wives Fans Don’t Like How Kody Brown Treated Janelle Brown
Janelle Deserves Better

Over the years, Kody said awful things about Janelle, including calling her lazy, a liar, and worse. During one particular fight, during the pandemic, Kody said to Janelle, “I don’t have sons. They’re all dead to me.” Although Kody didn’t mean those hateful words, as they were spoken in anger, they will haunt Kody for the rest of his life following the death of his son Garrison. On March 8, Janelle posted a photo of all her children together, and fans filled the comment section with love. One person wrote, “You are such a great mom. Praying for you all.”