"Could have figured out" — Sister Wives' Meri on her marriage with Kody

Meri Brown and Kody Brown's relationship has been a central focus of Sister Wives for many years, with viewers witnessing the ups and downs of their marriage.

In the most recent episode of Sister Wives on December 8, 2024, Meri talked about her beliefs to her friends, Hilaree and Andreah. She said there was still a way to resolve the issues in their marriage, despite Kody’s claims that he had been emotionally detached for years. In a confessional, Meri shared,

“I think that there’s a way that Kody and I could have figured out our relationship and our marriage.”

She highlighted her reflections on her feelings about their 33-year-long relationship, which ended after she and Kody separated in late 2022.

---

Sister Wives' Meri Brown opens up about her relationship with Kody Brown

Kody and Meri’s communication breakdown

Over the years, Kody had expressed that he was emotionally checked out of his relationship with Meri and made it clear that their marriage was no longer a priority. He often said that the only reason their marriage lasted as long as it did was because of the structure of polygamy, which allowed him to divide his attention between multiple wives.

Meri, however, found Kody’s explanation hard to accept. Meri pointed out to her friends how the existence of other wives justified Kody's emotional distance.

"He always said the only reason why we lasted as long as we did was because of plural marriage," she said.

Despite Kody's position, Meri believed there was still potential for them to repair their relationship. She reflected on the idea that they could have figured things out despite the complications that arose from the dynamics of their polygamous marriage.

She explained that her feelings of frustration were compounded by a lack of clear communication from Kody, leaving her to feel uncertain about his true feelings.

"It doesn't make sense. There's a lot that doesn't make sense, but I just go with it."

---

Meri’s struggle with jealousy and double standards

One of the major points of tension in Meri and Kody’s marriage was the latter's refusal to acknowledge the emotional impact of polygamy on Meri. In particular, Meri struggled with the idea that Kody could marry multiple women while she was expected to remain loyal to him.

During a conversation years ago on Sister Wives, Meri asked Kody how he would feel if she were to date someone else, wondering if he would experience the same emotions of jealousy that she felt when he married other women. Kody’s response was dismissive, claiming the idea of her dating someone else was “vulgar.”

“The idea of me dating somebody else is vulgar, but it’s not vulgar for him to do it,” Meri remarked.

Meri underscored that this created feelings of resentment for her. She found it difficult to accept that Kody’s actions were justified while her emotions were invalidated.

---

Moving forward after the separation

Despite the emotional turmoil, Meri ultimately decided to separate from Kody in 2022, a decision that came after years of frustration. Reflecting on their time together, she expressed that she gave Kody numerous opportunities to work on their relationship, but she eventually realized it was time to move on.

She acknowledged their marriage's positive moments and said she was now focused on the future.

"It was a good time with him, it was...And now we're done," Meri said in the Sister Wives episode.

Meri emphasized her commitment to moving forward on Sister Wives, expressing hope for the next chapter in her life. Indicating that she was embracing a new phase of her life and was open to new possibilities, she shared,

“I feel so much like I’m moving forward.”

She also revealed that her friends had long been supportive of her decision to leave Kody. Expressing gratitude for the support she received from those close to her, Meri said,

“They’re like, 'OK, we’re here for you, we’re supporting you. And it’s about damn time,'”

---

For more insights into the lives of the Brown family, be sure to catch new episodes of Sister Wives every Sunday at 10/9c on TLC.