Kody Brown Joins Fox’s “Special Forces” Amid Cast Tensions and Viewer Backlash

Kody Brown — best known as the central figure of TLC’s long-running reality series Sister Wives — is stepping outside his familiar polygamous family dynamic for the first time in over a decade. This fall, he will join the cast of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Fox, with the new season set to premiere Thursday, September 25.

The show, now entering its fourth season, brings together 18 celebrity participants to endure extreme physical and mental challenges modeled after real-life special forces training. Contestants face grueling tasks such as leaping from bridges, navigating dangerous terrain, and hauling themselves into helicopters, with no eliminations — only voluntary withdrawals or medical removals.

Brown will appear alongside a roster of reality TV veterans and personalities, including Teresa Giudice and her daughter Gia (The Real Housewives), Brittany Cartwright (Vanderpump Rules), Eva Marcille (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), and several others from a mix of former hit series.

However, his casting has already sparked controversy. In an interview, one fellow cast member admitted they “didn’t even know who he was” during filming and hinted that the two “didn’t necessarily get along.” Social media reactions have been equally divided: while some viewers are curious to see Brown outside his Sister Wives environment, others are calling for a boycott, arguing that his participation rewards a personality they feel has already profited enough from reality television fame.

This marks Brown’s first television appearance outside of Sister Wives, which has documented his plural marriage and large family — formerly four wives and 18 children — since 2010. Over the years, his on-screen persona has been polarizing, with critics and supporters often clashing online.

Industry observers note that Special Forces has developed a reputation for recruiting celebrities whose primary shows have ended or whose public image needs a refresh, leading to speculation about Brown’s motivations for joining. Compensation for such reality competition series is reportedly modest, suggesting that for many participants, the exposure may be more valuable than the paycheck.

Whether Special Forces will improve or further strain Brown’s public perception remains to be seen. For Fox, the move appears aimed at leveraging drama, curiosity, and the crossover appeal of reality television alumni.

One thing is certain — when the show airs this September, audiences will witness Kody Brown in an entirely new arena, far removed from the living rooms and family conflicts that made him a household name.