It is never easy to break the news that your marriage is ending. This is further complicated when one is in a plural marriage. Christine Brown broke the news to Meri, Janelle, and Robyn — her fellow sister wives — that she wanted out of their marriage.
The Browns’ unconventional family life is documented on the TLC series Sister Wives. The Browns belong to the Apostolic United Brethren, a sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that practices polygamy. Kody is married to four women: Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn. His marriages to Meri, Janelle, and Christine are not legal in the eyes of the law but spiritual. He is legally married to Robyn.
Christine told the women: "It's no secret that Kody and I have been in a rough spot for a long time. I have decided to leave Kody. It's a hard decision. I need to make a choice for happiness. I need to make a choice to have joy in my life and peace and there hasn't been a lot of hope at all until I decided to leave. I feel strongly this is the best choice for me."
The women were heartbroken by the news and what it means for their extended family. Robyn said, "I'm in shock. We're not just talking about three kids and a husband and a wife. We're talking about 18 kids, spouses, grand babies and five of us that are all connected and committed to each other and technically married."
Meri was in disbelief: "This is just a big announcement. I'm just processing at this point. I'm not happy right now."
Janelle had some idea this might happen. She said, "I intellectually knew this was coming. But here we are today. It's hard to know something and then to actually have it happen."
Watch this video for more information on the separation and what it will mean for the extended Brown family.
