Sister Wives: Janelle Brown SLAMS Polygamy but then calls on it to be Legalized

In a stunning turn of events, Sister Wives star Janelle Brown is making headlines with one of the boldest statements to ever come from a member of the famous Brown family. Known for years as one of Kody Brown’s most steady and pragmatic wives, Janelle is now simultaneously criticizing polygamy while also advocating for its legalization — a move that has fans both confused and fascinated. Her surprising new stance could shake the very foundations of the lifestyle she once defended, while also hinting at a deeper plan to bring an end to plural marriage as we know it.

For over a decade, audiences have watched Janelle navigate life as one of four wives in Kody Brown’s controversial family unit. She joined the Brown household as Kody’s second wife, sharing him with Meri, Christine, and later Robyn. But in 2022, a year after Christine shocked viewers by leaving, Janelle also broke away from the marriage. That decision marked the second major fracture in Kody’s carefully crafted image of a “happy” plural household.

Now, after spending the last two years redefining her independence, Janelle is speaking candidly about what it was like to live inside that world — and what she thinks should happen to it moving forward. During a recent confessional on TLC, she laid out a “genius plan” that, she believes, would virtually erase the practice of polygamy without jailing anyone for it. Her proposal is simple: make plural marriage legal, but enforce the same financial and marital obligations that exist in monogamous unions.

According to Janelle, the way to end polygamy is to make it expensive and legally binding. “No man is going to divide his estate four or five ways,” she said bluntly, noting that requiring husbands to give each wife equal financial security, property rights, and marital benefits would create a natural deterrent. “Just make it about the money,” she explained, arguing that if every wife had a valid claim to a husband’s assets, very few men would want to pursue plural marriage at all.

It’s a radical idea coming from someone who once lived within a polygamous marriage herself. For years, Janelle supported Kody’s vision of plural family life, even as cracks formed between the wives. But now she’s using her platform to call out the inequalities and contradictions she endured. In her TLC interview, Janelle made it clear that her experience as a divorced woman has given her new clarity about the system she once defended.

Her perspective also sheds light on the events that pushed her to leave Kody. Longtime fans will remember that Meri — Kody’s first wife — obtained what she called a “spiritual divorce” years before Janelle’s separation. That moment, Janelle now admits, opened her eyes to the possibility of walking away herself. But she also questioned the hypocrisy around Meri’s situation, recalling how Meri had been caught in the infamous “catfishing” scandal while still spiritually married to Kody. “If the church doesn’t punish that, then what is this ‘spiritual divorce’ storyline even about?” Janelle asked.

Her comments highlight the blurred lines between faith, family, and reality television. While the Brown family often invoked religious principles to justify their choices, Janelle is now pointing out how inconsistent those principles were in practice. This willingness to speak out marks a dramatic shift from the Janelle viewers once knew — the wife who kept her head down, worked full-time jobs, and kept the family finances afloat while Kody and the others appeared to benefit.

Beyond her public critique of polygamy, Janelle has also been busy building a new life for herself. After her split from Kody, she moved closer to her daughter Madison in North Carolina. Together, they’ve embarked on an ambitious agricultural project, purchasing a $289,000 property to start a farm. Part of the land will honor Janelle’s late son Garrison, who tragically passed away earlier this year. Madison revealed plans to name a road “Bob Boulevard” after Garrison’s nickname, and to dedicate a section of the property’s flower garden to mental health awareness.

The farm represents more than just a new chapter — it’s also a symbol of Janelle’s independence. Despite rumors about financial hardship, she’s proven she can stand on her own, investing in property and building something tangible outside the shadow of Sister Wives. “Does that sound like someone who’s broke?” she asked rhetorically, brushing off critics who accuse the Brown women of being financially dependent on Kody or TLC.

Still, her frustrations with the show and the media are palpable. Janelle has hinted at pulling back from participating in the ongoing reality series altogether. She’s tired of the “lies” and “storylines” that no longer reflect reality. Her departure, along with Christine’s, leaves Robyn as Kody’s only remaining wife — a far cry from the bustling plural household viewers first met years ago.

What makes Janelle’s current position so fascinating is its apparent contradiction. On one hand, she’s openly slamming the lifestyle she once lived. On the other, she’s calling for its legalization — not to promote it, but to dismantle it from within. It’s a bold, counterintuitive move that reflects her practical nature. By exposing the financial reality of plural marriage, Janelle believes she’s found a way to protect women and children from the instability she herself endured.

Her criticism of Kody has also sharpened. In interviews and on-camera segments, she’s accused him of rewriting history to cast himself as a victim. “He has amnesia when it comes to the past,” she said, noting that his narrative about their marriages ending due to the wives’ disinterest is simply not true. Mary echoed those sentiments, urging Kody to “man up” and take responsibility for his role in the breakdown of their relationships.

It’s a dramatic fall from grace for the man who once styled himself as the head of a plural “empire.” Today, Kody is left with just one wife and a shattered public image. Meanwhile, Janelle, Christine, and even Meri have embarked on new ventures and relationships, redefining their lives outside the family unit.

Janelle’s remarks about making polygamy legal have sparked heated debates among fans. Some see it as a cynical ploy, while others view it as a shrewd strategy rooted in firsthand experience. “Do you think a man’s going to sign up to split his income multiple ways with any woman? Nope,” she quipped. Her point is clear: by turning polygamy into a legally binding contract with equal financial stakes, it becomes unattractive to the very men who champion it.

The implications for the show are huge. If Janelle distances herself further from Sister Wives and its narrative, TLC could face a major shakeup. Viewers have already watched the family unravel over the past few seasons, and Janelle’s new public stance adds another layer of tension. As she shifts her focus to her farm and her family, she’s also redefining what it means to be a “sister wife” — no longer a silent participant, but a vocal critic and reformer.

In many ways, Janelle’s story mirrors the journey of many former polygamous wives who have left similar lifestyles. What makes her unique is that she’s doing it on national television, in front of millions of viewers who’ve followed her for over a decade. By advocating for a policy that would effectively end polygamy, she’s taking a stand not just for herself but for countless women who might otherwise feel trapped.

Whether TLC will continue to feature Janelle or pivot to focus on Kody and Robyn remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Janelle Brown is no longer holding back. Her blunt remarks about the realities of plural marriage — and her provocative plan to end it — are reshaping the conversation about Sister Wives and its legacy.

For now, fans are left to wonder: is this the beginning of the end for the Brown family’s televised saga? Or is it the start of a new chapter where the wives themselves take control of the narrative? Either way, Janelle’s message is loud and clear. She’s done with the façade, she’s done with the drama, and she’s ready to use her voice — even if it means calling for the legalization of a system she no longer believes in.