Kody Brown received a surprise message from wife Robyn Brown while competing on Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
During the Thursday, November 13, episode of the show, the recruits received videos from their loved ones as the Directing Staff (DS) watched — and judged — how emotional their reactions were to the well-wishes.
Kody’s prerecorded message came from Robyn, 47, who said, “Hi, handsome, I am sure you are charming everyone and making friends. [You must be] just impressing everyone with what you could pull off and what you can do.”
She continued: “Please know that the kids and I are praying for you every day. I am sending you light and love.”
The season 4 contestant was visibly moved by Robyn’s show of support. The DS argued over whether Kody’s tears were “real” after he watched the video. Kody, 56, previously got very emotional when discussing his home life on the show.
Sister Wives, which premiered on TLC in 2010, introduced Us to Kody’s life as a polygamist. He was already married to Meri Brown, Janelle Brown and Christine Brown when he met fourth wife Robyn. He and Robyn legally wed in December 2014 in order for him to adopt her three children from a prior marriage. (The couple share two children of their own, Solomon, 13, and Ariella, 9.)
Kody’s first three marriages, however, didn’t last. Christine, 53, announced their split in November 2021, followed by Janelle, 56, who revealed in December 2022 that she and Kody had separated. Meri, 54, confirmed her split from Kody in January 2023.
Shawn Johnson East, Andrew East and Kody Brown on ‘Special Forces.’ FOX via Getty Images
“There ended up being some bad blood with family over the divorces. In some cases with my children, communication has ceased,” Kody shared on an episode earlier this month. “When you don’t have a deep connection with your children, that is a disappointment. But there are probably certain things I won’t own. I will own where I should.”
Kody was also asked about the “pros and cons” of his lifestyle — including any possible “downside.”
“I had 18 kids with four wives,” Kody shared. “It has been three divorces, and I would never do that again — I would never marry again.”
The reality star explained that he was always “a believer,” adding, “I grew up in an entire culture that had it as a side note to their belief system. My dad had three wives.”
In the same November episode, Kody started crying when questioned about the ongoing estrangement between him and some of his kids.
“[My calling] was to be a husband and a father. I had four wives within the household. [That caused issues] within the family. There’s always the accusation that I was favoring one [child] over another,” he recalled. “They were turning against [me]. They were like, ‘I don’t need Dad or want Dad in my life.’”
Kody Brown’s relationships with Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn Brown have all had their ups and downs — but many Sister Wives viewers were shocked when nearly all his wives started to leave him. TLC fans were introduced to the Brown family in 2010 when he was legally married to Meri and […]
Kody found himself “offended by a lot of” what his kids did. “They rejected me. I felt like I gave all I had to my kids as long as they were engaging me. They always got reciprocation,” he explained.
The DS pointed out that perhaps Kody wasn’t taking his “proper responsibility in the fallout” with his children.
“I don’t want to admit that I’m wrong sometimes. I don’t like being wrong,” Kody admitted. “There was a point in my life when I was concerned about everybody. I should have had a strong relationship with my children. I am in a place in my life now where I’m very willing to say that I’ve been wrong.”
He continued: “My failure is I thought I knew about being a dad and husband. I really thought I did and I misunderstood that. I did get it wrong in so many ways and I hated it. I hated being blamed for it — so it made me resistant to ownership.”
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
