‘Sister Wives’ Robyn Brown Says COVID Was ‘Perfect Storm’ Ending Plural Marriage

Robyn Brown, the fourth and only wife left of the formerly polygamous Brown family, is breaking her silence on what caused the end of her plural marriage to Kody Brown.

Brown exposed the details in a recent interview, claiming that trouble began when the family relocated to a new home.  The star's reflection is amidst the turmoil of watching her former sister wives, Christine, Janelle, and Meri, leave one after the other. 

The reality TV star traced the beginning of the end to the family's move to Las Vegas, a pivotal moment where the focus shifted from marital relationships to the adult children leaving home.

However, this geographical move, while significant, was not the sole catalyst for the end of their plural marriage. Robyn highlighted the impact of various factors, including the disruptive force of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ripple effect of this change, compounded by the challenges of COVID-19, created what she termed the "perfect storm."  While speaking to PEOPLE, she said, "I think it started with when we were in Las Vegas. So their focuses started to shift to kids that have left home to go live their lives, instead of focusing on their relationship with Kody."

The 45-year-old noted that as the pandemic unfolded, unity within the plural marriage crumbled.  Disagreements in handling crises arose, escalating into conflicts fueled by the newfound independence of family members. Robyn elaborated, "We weren't as united, and everybody [was] disagreeing about how to handle it. And it became this fight, and people were so independent by that point."

The mother-of-five also introduced another layer to the narrative, suggesting that age was pivotal in the family's struggles. She indicated that reaching a certain age triggered a shift in priorities and independence, particularly for married women. 

Recounting conversations she claimed to have had with her former sister wives, she shared, "I've heard them all talk about, 'Well, I don't know if I want this anymore,' or, 'I just want something different,' or, 'I used to be OK with this and how this was going, but now I'm not OK accepting what it's been.'" 

Before her deep reflections, in a moment that stirred the pot of emotions within the family, the entrepreneur found herself at the center of an unexpected and awkward chain reaction during the show's finale.

The incident unfolded as Robyn engaged in a discussion with Meri about the uneven distribution of the family's land on Coyote Pass. In what appeared to be an ill-timed attempt at humor, Robyn remarked, "The other thing is that you never know if Kody and I are going to stay together." 

While laughter ensued between the women, the atmosphere took a sober turn when the camera captured Kody's less-than-amused expression. Recognizing the tension she had unintentionally created, Robyn attempted to salvage the situation with a candid acknowledgment of her misstep.

"That was a bad joke, Kody, sorry, sorry," she admitted. Despite her efforts, he remained unimpressed, responding, "I'm trying to think of a comeback."

In a confessional interview, Robyn clarified her intention behind the joke, emphasizing her desire to be recognized as an individual beyond her connection with the 54-year-old. 

Amidst the complexities of plural marriage, Kody stood firm beside Robyn, claiming she was the only one he had a unique and profound connection with.

In the "Sister Wives One-on-One" special, the author revealed that he had never felt love before marrying her, despite being previously married to Meri, Christine, and Janelle Brown.

Asserting that Robyn was the sole source of the elusive butterflies in his stomach, he stated, "I fell in love with Robyn, I never fell in love with anybody else. I was just choosing to be in that covenant of love with them."

He also disclosed the moment he met Robyn, painting a vivid picture of emotions transcending anything he had experienced. The father-of-eighteen even noted that he "started weeping for joy and didn't stop for months" after they met. 

Interestingly, Robyn herself only recently became fully aware of the depth of Kody's feelings for her. But despite the revelation, her primary concern remains the well-being of the family unit. 

Robyn expressed, "I did my best. I don't know what else I was supposed to do. But I did my best to not have it be something that was painful for them. I constantly was suppressing and hiding my relationship and any kind of connection I had with Kody."