Christine Brown is opening up about the thing her husband Kody Brown did that made her realize she finally needed to part ways with him.
In a new interview with People, the Sister Wives star— who announced she was divorcing Kody in November 2021 after more than 25 years of marriage—revealed that the finally straw in her marriage was when Kody chose to not be present for his and Christine’s 19-year-old daughter Ysabel when the teen underwent scoliosis surgery in September 2020. His decision made Christine lose all respect for her husband.
“I really find it hard to stay with a guy who I don’t respect,” Christine told People.
Though Kody– who remains legally married to wife Robyn and spiritually married to Meri and Janelle–- blamed his absence on COVID concerns, Christine claims that excuse did not sit well with her or their daughter.
“I understood COVID, and why he couldn’t come, but she didn’t,” Christine said of Ysabel, who was only 17 at the time of the surgery. “And she still has a hard time with it.”
Christine went on to claim that Kody “broke my little girl’s heart” by not traveling to New Jersey for Ysabel’s surgery, noting that even the surgical staff was taken aback by Kody’s absence.
” … I remember them pointing out, like, ‘Are you here alone? Where’s your husband?'” Christine recalled. “I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s not here.’ And they’re like, ‘Whoa, isn’t that hard?’ And I’m like, ‘No, it’s hard for her.’ It’s hard for Ysabel, but it’s not hard for me.”
While Christine said she would’ve wanted Kody there for Ysabel’s sake, his presence wasn’t needed by her, and that made her realize that she could get along without him.
“It was a good wake-up call,” she said. “In the end I would’ve preferred to have him there, of course, because it’s what Ysabel needed. But I didn’t need him anymore.”
Despite their own efforts as well as those from a professional counselor, Christine said her marriage to Kody was lacking more than just intimacy.
“It was that layer of love, and commitment, and trust,” she explained.
Christine’s advice to those in a similar situation is to stop, listen to your heart, and figure out what you want in life.
“I thought for a while I was making selfish decisions,” she continued. “Then I was like, ‘Is this selfish?’ I realized, ‘No, this is exactly what you should do. You should be in charge of your life.’ It’s scary, yes, because you don’t know what it looks like, but it’s a lot better than staying where you shouldn’t be.”
Following her split from Kody, Christine relocated from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Utah, with her and Kody’s youngest daughter Truley, where she continues to live today.
“I just want to be an example to my kids more than anything,” Christine told the magazine. “I always told them, ‘Do what’s going to make you happy,’ I have to do the same.”
The upcoming season of ‘Sister Wives’— which premieres next month on TLC— will cover the period of time when Christine decides to leave Kody, and the reactions she gets from the entire family when she announces her decision.
Kody and his other wives have not yet responded publicly to Christine’s interview with People.
RELATED STORY: ‘Sister Wives’ Stars Kody & Robyn Brown Establish New Company For Their Family– Without Kody’s Wives Janelle & Meri (Exclusive Details)
(Photos: TLC; Instagram)
7 Responses
When he chose to stay with Robyn and her kids during covid,pretty much said how he felt about the others. If he could have been with only one family then it should have been with his daughter that was having major surgery and needed his support, or with Meri who was totally alone . The whole covid thing was a cop out to not have to deal with the others because he wasn’t in total control over them.
If it weren’t for that stupid cult nonsense about going to heaven according how many wives you have, he would just be married to Robyn and his family would be the kids he has with her. It’s obvious she’s the one he wants to be with and the others are just props to “go to heaven”, and that sadly includes his kids
Honestly I lost a bit of respect for Janelle because she stayed with Kody after the way he treated their kids.
I’m glad Christine left, it was absolutely the right decision.
It does really seem like Christine is a very good mom. All of her kids seem to adore her and even Janelle and Meri’s kids seem to think of her as a real second mom.
It doesn’t surprise me that her children being treated as second-class citizens was what ultimately drove her away. Even Kody cited his involvement in Truely getting super sick as the catalyst for Christine stepping back from him. Makes sense that his refusal to be there for Ysabel was when Christine was done.
That’s thee most disgusting,and there are many,thing this man child has done. No excuse would justify his action when it came to being there for his own child. If it was one of Sobbins kids,he would have been there 100%….no question. And the rest of the kids,as well as the “wives” know this too. Bravo to you Christine for putting both you and your kids happiness ahead of wonton noodle head. Your kids KNOW how much you love and support them.
As someone who just divorced my husband of 20 years this year I completely understand where she is coming from. I, too, had lost all respect for my ex. He, also, did something that hurt my 19 year old. He had a fling with a neighbor (who was my “friend”)and my daughter figured it out. She told him to tell me or she would. This @SS didn’t tell me for 9 months even after he knew she was suffering emotionally holding his secret. She finally gave him an ultimatum and he came clean. I couldn’t care less about the neighbor (we were already legally separated by this point) but I will NEVER get over him leaving her to hold his dirty laundry for NINE MONTHS. These men are so completely narcissistic they will never be able to put anyone before themselves. Never. I feel free, as well!
Good riddance!
Go Christine! I’m so happy she’s being open about this and seems to be living her best life. Sticking up for herself and her children.