Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Standing With Sons Amid Kody Feud

"Sister Wives" star Janelle Brown defends her kids, Gabe and Garrison, against their father, Kody Brown.

With the TLC personality now separate from her ex Kody, who fathers her six children, she is taking the split in stride and starting a new life. However, "Sister Wives" 18th season return on Sunday, Aug. 20, has started revisiting fallouts in the Brown family. 

The season premiere episode of the TLC reality series shows the rift between the patriarch and his four wives—three of whom(Janelle, Meri, and Christine) are no longer sister wives—and two of his kids. 

In the show's episode, the 54-year-old opened up about the rift between some of her kids and her ex. The mother of six was hanging out with Christine Brown and some of her kids when the topic of the holidays came up. 

"Kody's still feeling like the boys need to have a conversation with him or whatever, so we're separate," Janelle said of Gabe and Garrison before confirming she wouldn't spend the holidays with the larger family at Fourth wife Robyn Brown's house. She then said:

"Kody feels like they owe him a big apology and some sort of conversation and stuff for being disrespectful," calling the situation a "disagreement. I always said I pick my kids before Kody. What am I going to do, go to Robyn's house and hang out with Robyn's kids and Mary and Kody?"

Meanwhile, in a confessional, Kody explained that he doesn't want to have a holiday experience without having a chance to "clear the air" prior. In his words:

"If something political or something about COVID or my own experience with it comes up, and we end up devolving into an angry conversation." Adding, "That's a stupidity that I'm not going to bring into my house for holidays."

In Christine's confessional, she expressed concerns that her breakup with Kody is causing stress, saying:

"Kody told me I was breaking up the family like it's my fault that the family is breaking up. Dude? If my relationship with my sister wives is up to me and it's my fault that I have a bad relationship with my sister's wives, how is it not your fault that you have a bad relationship with your children?"

Speaking of moving on in stride, In December, Janelle shared insights into her plans to start leading a healthy lifestyle, barely a day after publicly announcing her split from Kody.

She took to Instagram to share a video update about her ongoing health goals ahead of the new year. The video, apparently centered on her progress, included a scene of her lifting a heavy weight in the gym.

"At what point do you decide its time…time to put your health first," Janelle wrote across the post. "Because this has been a game changer. I'm coming for you 2023." The reality star also echoed the same sentiments in the post's caption, adding that she plans not to give up her health plans.

The caption read: "I'm ready for you, 2023! This health journey I've been on has been incredible. The results weren't overnight, and I'm okay with that. It's all about slow and steady that wins the race. 2023 is my year!"

Unlike Janelle, Kody is not finding the separation easy, including that from his other wives, and for that, he says he has "no reason" ever to marry again. Instead, he will stick by Robyn, the one wife he has left. 

In an interview with People Magazine, he discussed life after losing three wives. Kody spoke about how plural marriage is actually "extremely difficult." The 51-year-old, who is now monogamous, said his plans for the future have changed. 

"The idea of ever marrying again after my experience, there's no reason for me to do that. I feel like I've hit the bottom of a deep swimming pool, but I've pushed off and am headed to the surface," he explained.

The reality TV star also spoke about plural marriage being "extremely difficult." But despite insisting that he never wants another wife, Kody still advocates for polygamy and plural relationships.