For years, Sister Wives fans have placed much of the blame for the family’s breakdown squarely on Kody Brown and Robyn Brown’s shoulders. But now, fans are getting a wild reminder-Kody’s original three wives actually pushed him toward Robyn.
Yes, Meri, Janelle, and Christine once rolled out the red carpet for the woman they now blame for their family’s unraveling.
In their 2012 book, Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage, the co-wives shared their first impressions of Robyn during the courting phase. Some of these thoughts are quite sappy.
“There was something special about this,” Janelle recalled tearfully. She even described a “burning in her bosom” that told her Robyn was meant to join the family.
Christine? She admitted her spiritual prompting to accept Robyn was even stronger than the one she had when joining the family herself.
And Meri? She didn’t just approve-she introduced Robyn to Kody.
“She [Meri] got the ball rolling,” Kody said. “She asked me to think about Robyn as a potential fourth wife.”
But looking back, did they all regret handing Kody his midlife-crisis-on-a-platter?
New revelations and new beginnings. #SisterWives returns Sunday, April 20 at 10/9c on TLC. pic.twitter.com/yjgmIppXLH
— TLC Network (@TLC) March 20, 2025
Sister Wives: From Sisterly Love to Silent Warfare
Back in the early Sister Wives seasons, Meri, Janelle, and Christine spoke glowingly about adding a fourth wife to the family. But that enthusiasm didn’t last long.
As the marriage between Kody and Robyn Brown progressed, things started to sour-and fast.
“I blamed Robyn for my struggling relationship with Kody,” Meri admitted in early episodes.
And fans have watched this transformation unfold over the years. Once described as “the peacemaker” and “the spiritual gift,” Robyn is now seen as the wedge that drove the original sister wives away.
Christine, who once felt “affirmed” about Robyn’s place in the family, now openly accuses Kody of abandoning her and the rest of the family.
Janelle, who once wept over the idea of Robyn joining, has made it clear she wants nothing to do with the toxic dynamic anymore.
“There’s a few things that I will fight for,” Meri now says. “And this is one of them.”
The mood has shifted-and so has the sisterhood.
The Browns' journey isn’t over. More questions, more drama… and still another half of the season left! 👀 #SisterWives returns this spring. pic.twitter.com/sYQgOGHpQs
— TLC Network (@TLC) February 3, 2025
Sister Wives: Did They Unintentionally Destroy Their Own Family?
According to longtime fans, the minute Robyn came into the picture, the Brown family started to crack. The promise of a shared, plural marriage turned into an unequal, Robyn-centric household.
Despite Kody Brown’s years-long vow to treat all wives “equally,” it became obvious that Robyn was his favorite. And the other women, who once celebrated her entry, watched in silence as they were pushed further and further out.
“He didn’t fall out of love with the others. He just fell harder for Robyn,” one fan commented online.
Ironically, they got what they asked for-but not what they expected. Kody entered his “teenage boy” era, as fans called it, acting smitten and impulsive. Robyn became his top priority. And the family, which once functioned under a shared faith and purpose, fractured completely.
Sister Wives: “We Were All On Board”-The Forgotten Truth Behind Robyn’s Arrival
As wild as it sounds now, all three of Kody’s original wives once gave their blessing. And not just in passing-they were emotionally invested in seeing Robyn join the family.
Here’s what each wife had to say:
Meri: Personally introduced Robyn to Kody. Later admitted to feeling blindsided by how fast he fell for her.
Janelle: Was brought to tears by a spiritual “affirmation” that Robyn belonged.
Christine: Claimed her prompting about Robyn was stronger than the one that brought her to Kody.
Fans now wonder: Were they hoping Robyn would fix something that was already broken?
Meri wanted a confidante. Janelle sought peace. Christine might’ve hoped for balance. Instead, they added someone who would unintentionally tilt the scales forever.
Sister Wives: The Sappy Words Are Gone-So Is the Sisterhood
Today, you won’t hear Meri, Janelle, or Christine say anything sentimental about Robyn. That chapter has closed, and so have their marriages.
Meri now speaks openly about living her truth and not shrinking herself for others.
Janelle has found independence in North Carolina and is focused on healing after Garrison’s tragic passing.
Christine has remarried and says she finally feels “seen.”
As for Kody? He’s still defending his love for Robyn-and blaming everyone else for the fallout.
“I’m so tired of being guilted for loving Robyn,” he yells in the latest Tell-All.
But Sister Wives fans aren’t buying it. They’ve watched the tapes. They know the favoritism. And they haven’t forgotten that this wasn’t just Kody’s idea.
It may have started with a spiritual “affirmation.” But it ended with three women walking away-for good.
