The Real Reason Janelle Left Kody: The Behind-the-Scenes Drama TV Didn’t Dare to Show!

Sister Wives season 19 star Janelle Brown was married to polygamist patriarch Kody Brown for 29 years. The beloved unscripted series premiered in 2010 and chronicled the polygamist lifestyle of Kody and his four wives. As Kody’s second wife, Janelle entered a spiritual marriage with him on January 20, 1993. At the time, he was already married to Meri Brown, and he would go on to marry Christine Brown and Robyn Brown before all was said and done. Janelle and Kody had six children together, but their son, Garrison Brown, tragically died in 2024.

Janelle was a businesswoman with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, so she was one of the Brown family’s main breadwinners. Known for her laid-back, independent nature, the Sister Wives season 19 star was previously married to Meri’s brother. Janelle separated from Kody in December 2022 after nearly 30 years. In 2025, she announced a “detox” plan to focus on emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, relocating to North Carolina to be near her daughter Madison. Janelle remains a resilient figure, prioritizing her children and grandchildren while navigating life post-separation. Read on to find out the real reason Janelle left Kody.

Janelle Actually Enjoyed Being In A Polygamous Marriage

She Liked The Independence It Afforded Her

While some of Kody’s wives hated having to share their husband with other women, Janelle embraced polygamy. Raised in a mainstream Mormon household, the Sister Wives season 19 star was drawn to the polygamist lifestyle’s sense of community and shared responsibilities, which aligned with her independent nature. Janelle appreciated the support system of sister wives, believing it fostered a collaborative family dynamic. She valued the economic benefits and division of labor, allowing her to pursue her career. However, her perspective shifted over time due to Kody’s favoritism and strained family ties, leading to their separation in 2022.

Sister Wives: Signs Janelle Brown Is Thinking About Dating Again (Did She Change Her Mind?)

Janelle Brown was finished with romance when she walked away from her polygamist husband. Has the Sister Wives star grown more open to the idea?

During Sister Wives season 19, Janelle reflected on her life as Kody’s second wife. She spoke candidly about the fact that she loved that he wasn’t around every night. She claimed that Kody was particular and had a lot of food needs. She enjoyed knowing that he wouldn’t be around all the time, so she could just be comfortable in her own space while focusing on raising her children. While her sister wives resisted the lifestyle, Janelle embraced it fully. She never wanted her marriage to Kody to come to an end, but she felt he gave her no choice.

The Real Reason Janelle Left Kody

There Was Only One Thing The Stoic Janelle Couldn’t Tolerate

Janelle and Kody had been growing apart for many years. After Kody married his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, in 2010, the family dynamic changed dramatically. Kody openly preferred spending time with his new wife, which caused problems with him and his existing wives. Still, Kody’s neglect was something that Janelle endured for years, and could have kept tolerating. What she couldn’t live with was how Kody treated their children. During Sister Wives season 19, Janelle talked about hating the fact that Kody had problems with her children, and that he “wouldn’t move heaven and Earth” to bridge family divides.

Though Janelle had put up with Kody’s negligence for years, things came to a head during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody and Robyn were determined to avoid getting sick, so they went all in on viral mitigation rules. When some of Kody’s older children couldn’t follow the rules to his exacting specifications, he simply stopped seeing them. Janelle tried to mediate, but to no avail. Over time, Kody stopped speaking to their sons, especially Garrison and Gabriel Brown. When Garrison died in 2024, he and Kody weren’t on speaking terms.

It was the beginning of the end for the Browns.

When the holidays came around, Kody and Robyn refused to see family members unless they followed almost impossibly strict COVID rules, which included wiping down groceries, changing clothes when entering the house, and leaving mail outside for 24 hours. After an incident that involved Robyn’s nanny spreading COVID-19 to the rest of the family, they stopped getting together entirely. Thanksgiving and ChristmasThey spent their first holidays separated.

Three Divorces Tore The Brown Family Apart

Most Of Kody’s Children Sided With Their Mothers

The COVID-19 pandemic is what triggered Kody’s third wife, Christine Brown, to walk away from the marriage in 2021. She’d been unhappy, but once Kody and Robyn refused to see the rest of the family, Christine realized she’d be better off leaving. They’d been married for 27 years and had six children together. Inspired by Christine, Janelle left him a year later. Kody’s first wife, Meri Brown, was the last to walk away. She left in 2022 after 32 years of marriage and one child.

By the time Kody’s three wives ended their plural marriage, most of their children were grown up and living on their own. Many of Kody’s children were married or in serious long-term relationships, and some of them even had children of their own. Still, most of them took their mother’s side in the multiple splits.

Is Kody Still Feuding With His Children?

He Finally Reached Out To Try To Make Amends

During an episode of Sister Wives season 19, Kody revealed that he recently got together with Christine’s children in Utah. Other than Mykelti Brown, Kody hasn’t stayed in touch with all his other children. Kody said two of his sons “from another mother” were there. This could mean Janelle’s sons, Logan Brown, Hunter Brown, or Gabriel Brown. After losing contact with many of his children, it’s great that Kody is finally starting to make amends.