“I Just Don’t Like ‘Em:” Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown’s Strong Opinions Explained

Sister Wives season 19 stars Janelle Brown and Kody Brown ended their spiritual marriage in 2022, but how does she really feel about her ex-husband? Kody and Janelle share a unique relationship, as Janelle’s mother was married to Kody’s father. They were married for 29 years and had six children together. Tensions grew due to Kody’s favoritism toward his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, and his strained ties with their kids. Janelle’s independence clashed with Kody’s control, leading to their 2022 separation. Citing neglect and financial issues, Janelle now focuses on autonomy post-split.

While Janelle was married to Kody, her relationship with Robyn was cordial but not deeply personal. As Kody prioritized Robyn, especially after Christine Brown’s 2021 departure, Janelle felt sidelined, perceiving Robyn as receiving disproportionate attention and resources. By December 2022, Janelle and Kody separated, with Janelle citing his neglect and financial disputes. The tragic loss of their 25-year-old son, Garrison Brown, in 2024, briefly aligned Janelle and Kody in grief, but Janelle’s dynamic with Robyn remained distant. Now embracing her independence, the Sister Wives season 19 star focuses on her own path, distinct from Kody and Robyn’s journey.

“The Gospel According To Janelle”

Janelle’s Wild Theory About Kody’s Behavior Explained

The Sister Wives season 19 Tell All special aired recently, and Janelle was brutally honest about the ending of her marriage. She shared her theory that Kody leaned into being a villain in order to protect Robyn. She claimed that he was much meaner than he used to be, and she thinks he did it to draw everyone’s fire away from Robyn. People were mad at Robyn, and he wanted them to focus on him instead. Janelle thought Kody sacrificed himself to protect his favorite wife. She referred to her theory as “The Gospel according to Janelle.”

Janelle Doesn’t Want To Be Friends With Kody Or Robyn

“I Just Don’t Like ‘Em”

When Sukanya “Suki” Krishnan, the host of the Sister Wives season 19 Tell-All special, asked if she could ever be friends with Kody and Robyn, Janelle didn’t hesitate to answer. The single mother made it clear that she had no interest in pursuing any kind of relationship with Kody or Robyn. She explained that though she was perfectly capable of being friendly with Kody, she wasn’t interested in spending time with him or Robyn. In case it wasn’t clear enough, Janelle went on to say “I just don’t like ’em“.

Where Does Janelle Stand With Her Other Former Sister Wives?

From Cordial To Tense

Janelle may not want to be friends with Kody and Robyn, but she hasn’t cut off the entire Brown family. Since leaving Kody, Janelle and Christine have grown closer. Their friendship deepened through mutual support during their separations. Christine and her new husband, David Woolley, helped Janelle move to North Carolina, and they even vacationed together. Janelle admires Christine’s independence, while Christine values Janelle’s pragmatic approach. Though they live far away from each other, Janelle and Christine have leaned on one another for emotional support, celebrating their newfound freedom and co-parenting challenges.

Janelle and Meri Brown, Kody’s former first wife, enjoy a cordial relationship, but Janelle’s relationship with Robyn is distant and tense. Janelle, who left Kody in 2022, has minimal contact with Robyn, focusing instead on her independence and family. Their strained dynamic stems from Janelle’s belief that Kody and Robyn mistreated her children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody and his fourth wife were so strict about viral mitigation that they ended up cutting off contact with some of the older children.

“When you have friends who show up to a birthday trip (last month) ready to bring the laughs. Tonight I’m grateful for friends old and new.”

Robyn’s inconsistent storytelling during Sister Wives season 19 exacerbated Janelle’s issues with her, as her shifting narratives strained family trust. Her attempts to mediate Kody’s strained relationships with his adult children often made things worse, particularly when it came to his relationships with Janelle’s and Christine’s kids. Kody’s older kids often felt Robyn’s children received preferential treatment from their father, which led to resentment. By 2025, with Meri, Janelle, and Christine having left Kody, Robyn remains his sole wife, living a monogamous life.

Janelle’s Been Nurturing Other Relationships

She’s Been Spending More Time With Her Girlfriends

 

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Janelle was part of a huge clan when she was still married to Kody. At the height of his polygamy, Kody had four wives and 18 children, so there was never a shortage of people around. When Janelle walked away from Kody, she walked away from the plural lifestyle and the entire Brown family. Unlike her sister wives, Janelle enjoyed polygamy. She liked the lifestyle, so walking away wasn’t easy. Since branching out on her own, Janelle has had to nurture social bonds with people outside of her former family. The Sister Wives season 19 star has been spending more and more time with her girlfriends.

Janelle and her girlfriends recently took a road trip to celebrate her 56th birthday, and she posted photos from the trip to Instagram. “When you have friends who show up to a birthday trip (last month) ready to bring the laughs,” reads Janelle’s caption. “Tonight I’m grateful for friends old and new.” The photos feature Janelle and her friends wearing branded matching hats and tee shirts, having a great time. In the old days, Janelle would have celebrated her birthday with the massive Brown family, but these days, the Sister Wives season 19 star is building her own social network.