Why did Meri and Kody Brown Split? Disclosing the Reasons
by Aishwarya R
Updated Nov 21, 2023
Meri and Kody Brown Relationship
Meri Brown and Kody Brown's relationship has been a central focus of the reality TV show "Sister Wives," providing viewers with a glimpse into the complexities of polygamous marriages. Meri was Kody's first wife, and their union began with a legal marriage in 1990. Together, they made the decision to embrace a plural marriage lifestyle. As the first wife, Meri welcomed Janelle Brown into the family as the first sister wife in 1993.
Despite the challenges inherent in polygamous relationships, Meri and Kody navigated through various ups and downs, demonstrating a commitment to their unconventional family structure.
In 2014, a significant development occurred in their relationship when Meri and Kody chose to legally divorce after approximately 14 years of marriage. This decision was made to facilitate Kody's legal marriage to his fourth wife, Robyn Brown. The legal divorce allowed Kody to adopt Robyn's three older children from a previous marriage, solidifying their legal family ties.
Despite the legal divorce, Meri and Kody maintained their spiritual marriage, emphasizing the importance of their commitment beyond the legal aspect. The dynamics of their relationship, along with the addition of sister wives over the years, have been explored openly on "Sister Wives," offering a unique perspective on the challenges and joys of plural marriage.
Throughout the show, Meri and Kody's relationship has faced its share of trials, including communication issues and the emotional impact of the legal divorce. However, the couple has strived to navigate these challenges and maintain a connection that goes beyond legalities, highlighting the complexity and resilience of their enduring bond.
The unfolding narrative of Meri and Kody Brown's relationship continues to captivate audiences, providing a glimpse into the intricacies of a polygamous family's journey.
Why Did Meri and Kody Brown Split?
The split between Meri and Kody Brown appears to be the culmination of a series of challenges that their relationship faced over the years, with various factors contributing to their decision to officially end their "spiritual" marriage.
The turning point in their relationship occurred in 2015 when Meri became the victim of a catfishing scandal, where she was deceived into an emotional relationship with someone online. The aftermath of this incident seemed to intensify existing issues within Meri and Kody's marriage. Kody cited diminished trust as a reason for his decision to stop visiting Meri's house and admitted to a decline in romantic feelings for her.
During the "Sister Wives" Season 16 tell-all special in 2022, Meri opened up about the challenges in her marriage, revealing that the lack of intimacy with Kody had been an ongoing issue for a decade. Despite facing Kody's apparent disregard for her, Meri expressed her commitment to the family, grounded in faith and the hope that Kody might one day want to reconcile romantically.
However, in January 2023, Meri and Kody jointly announced the official termination of their "spiritual" marriage. The statement posted on their Instagram accounts indicated that, after more than a decade of efforts to work on their relationship, they had decided to permanently end their marriage.
The decision to split seems to be a result of a combination of emotional distance, a lack of intimacy, and the challenges that surfaced both before and after the catfishing scandal. The "Sister Wives" Season 18 episodes, filmed in late 2021 and early 2022, depict Meri gradually distancing herself from Kody and Robyn. Although she hasn't officially declared a split at that point, viewers are aware that the termination of their marriage is imminent. The broader context of other marriages within the Brown family facing challenges and separations adds to the complexity of their family dynamics as portrayed on the show.
Who is Kody Brown?
Kody Winn Brown, born on January 17, 1969, stands as the patriarch of the Brown Family, known from TLC's Sister Wives. Within his family, he shares his life with one wife, Robyn Sullivan, and together they have eighteen children, as well as six grandchildren. Kody's previous marital status includes three ex-wives: Meri Barber, Janelle Schriever, and Christine Allred.
Full Name
Kody Winn Brown
Date of Birth
January 17, 1969
Age
Known For
Patriarch of the Brown Family on TLC's Sister Wives
Current Spouse
Robyn Sullivan
Ex-Wives
Meri Barber, Janelle Schriever, Christine Allred
54
Who is Meri Brown?
Meri Caroline Brown (formerly Barber), born on January 16, 1971, held the role of Kody Brown's initial wife. Their legal union lasted from 1990 until 2014, marking the year when Kody divorced Meri. This divorce facilitated Kody's marriage to Robyn and the subsequent adoption of her three children.
Age
Full Name
Meri Caroline Brown
Date of Birth
January 16, 1971
52
Known For
Former First Wife of Kody Brown from TLC's Sister Wives
Marital Status
Divorced from Kody Brown in 2014
Meri and Kody Brown Children
Kody Brown and Meri Brown, from the reality TV show "Sister Wives," share one child together, a 27-year-old named Leon Brown. In June 2022, Leon made a personal announcement on Instagram, revealing that they are transgender and prefer the use of they/them pronouns.
In the post, Leon reflected on their journey of self-discovery and the challenges of growing up in a gendered and restrictive context. They expressed a sense of readiness to share their authentic self with the world, emphasizing their genderqueer and unapologetic identity.
Meri Brown, the mother of Leon, has been supportive of her child following their announcement. In the wake of Leon sharing their gender identity, Meri posted a birthday tribute to Leon over the summer.
In her tribute, Meri highlighted the positive qualities of her child, describing laughter running through their veins and acknowledging their strength and inner wisdom. The post conveyed a sense of pride and gratitude for Leon's existence, reflecting a supportive and loving relationship between mother and child.
Is Meri Dating Anyone?
Meri Brown has not disclosed any details about dating anyone following her separation from Kody Brown. She has chosen to keep her personal life private, and there have been no public statements or indications regarding a new romantic relationship.
Meri seems to be focused on her personal growth journey and has been sharing her experiences on social media platforms, particularly on Instagram. Her posts often highlight her commitment to inner peace, self-love, and gratitude. In February, around Valentine's Day, she humorously updated her "relationship status" on Instagram, stating that she is "committed to inner peace, growth, self-love, and gratitude."
While Meri shares glimpses of her life, travels, and experiences with friends on social media, she has not provided any explicit information about a romantic partner. It appears that she is embracing a period of self-discovery and personal development. As of now, Meri Brown's dating status remains undisclosed, and she continues to focus on her business ventures and personal journey.
Current Relationship of Kody Brown
Kody Brown's current relationship with Robyn has been a significant storyline in the reality TV series "Sister Wives," showcasing the complexities of a plural marriage lifestyle. Their journey began with a spiritual marriage on May 22, 2010, when Kody was 41 years old and Robyn was 31. They later solidified their legal union on December 11, 2014.
Prior to meeting Kody, Robyn had been married to David Jessop until their divorce in 2007. Following her divorce, Robyn met Kody and his first wife, Meri, at a gathering hosted by Robyn's cousin. Kody initially had reservations about pursuing a relationship with Robyn, perceiving her as a "soccer mom" with a van and three children from her previous marriage. Despite these reservations, Kody found himself falling for Robyn, and their courtship and evolving relationship were documented in Season 1 of "Sister Wives."
A pivotal moment in their relationship occurred when Kody decided to divorce his first wife, Meri, in order to legally marry Robyn. This legal marriage was crucial for Kody to adopt Robyn's three children, David Dayton, Aurora, and Breanna, from her previous marriage. The adoption was successfully completed in 2015, officially blending Robyn's children into the Brown family.
Robyn and Kody expanded their family by welcoming two children of their own, Solomon and Ariella. The adoption of Robyn's children and the addition of their biological children strengthened the familial bonds within the plural marriage structure. Despite Kody's initial reservations, the couple's journey highlights the fluid and evolving nature of relationships within a polygamous family.
The "Sister Wives" series has provided viewers with insights into the dynamics of Robyn and Kody's relationship, showcasing both the challenges and joys that come with navigating a plural marriage. Their story is one of adaptation, growth, and the unique dynamics that arise when multiple individuals are involved in a committed and complex family structure.
Meri Professional Life
Meri Brown's professional life is diverse and encompasses various ventures, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. Meri is a cast member on TLC's reality TV show "Sister Wives," which follows the lives of the Brown family as they navigate the challenges and dynamics of a polygamous lifestyle. While the exact details of the cast's earnings are not always disclosed, it is common for reality TV stars to receive compensation for their participation in such shows.
Meri owns and operates Lizzie's Heritage Inn, a bed and breakfast located in Utah. In addition to income generated from guest stays, the inn boosts its revenue through the sale of branded merchandise, including items like baseball caps and hand-cut stone coasters. This entrepreneurial endeavor demonstrates Meri's involvement in the hospitality industry.
Since 2016, Meri has been involved in selling clothing for the multi-level marketing company LuLaRoe. This business likely involves marketing and selling LuLaRoe products, contributing to Meri's income stream. In the show's 18th season, she discusses the possibility of moving her LuLaRoe inventory from Arizona to the Utah inn, suggesting a potential consolidation of her business operations.
Meri offers personalized video messages to fans through the platform Cameo for a fee of $150. This personalized interaction with fans not only provides a source of income but also allows her to connect with and engage her audience on a more personal level.
Meri Brown's professional life reflects a combination of reality television, entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry, involvement in a multi-level marketing business, and personalized interactions with fans through platforms like Cameo. Her ability to diversify her endeavors showcases a multifaceted approach to her career, balancing different aspects of the entertainment and business worlds.
Why did Meri and Kody Brown Split - FAQs
Meri and Kody Brown decided to split as part of a legal maneuver to allow Kody to marry his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, and legally adopt her three children from a previous marriage. The divorce was a strategic decision to facilitate the adoption process.
While the legal adoption process was a significant factor in their decision to divorce, Meri has suggested that their marital problems began before the adoption situation. Issues such as a lack of intimacy and diminished trust played a role in the challenges they faced.
Yes, Meri and Kody's relationship faced various challenges beyond the adoption situation. These challenges included communication issues, emotional distance, and a decline in romantic feelings, as documented on the reality TV series "Sister Wives."
Meri and Kody Brown officially announced the end of their "spiritual" marriage through a joint statement posted on their Instagram accounts in January 2023. The statement mentioned that, after more than a decade of working on their relationship, they had decided to permanently terminate their marriage relationship.
In more recent episodes of "Sister Wives," filmed in late 2021 and early 2022, Meri is shown slowly distancing herself from Kody and Robyn. While she hadn't officially declared a split at that time, viewers are aware that the termination of their marriage is on the horizon, indicating a progression in Meri's approach to the relationship.