If you watch Sister Wives online, you know the premise is that it's an honest, open book, a look at the lives of a polygamist family, warts and all.
After the Kody Brown divorce drama hit the news as the show neared its finale this winter, many fans began to question its legitimacy in that regard.
The revelation generated plenty of headlines ahead of the finale, but in doing so, made it appear as if the show was more contrived than real.
In a statement, the Brown family claimed that the divorce - Kody legally splitting with one wife to wed another - was to “legally restructure” the family.
Said Meri Brown, the legal wife who relinquished that honor:
“It’s an end of something that we had had, in a way, for 24 and a half years. But at the same time, I know it’s not, because I have eternity with him."
"I have eternity with the family. I know it’s not the end.”
It was revealed that Kody was divorcing Meri to marry his newest wife, Robyn, and get insurance for her three children from her previous marriage.
Meri and producers painted it as if she was making a sacrifice for the sake of the family, which we suppose is true, but felt more than a bit exaggerated.
The divorce is not the only thing fans are calling into question, either. In the penultimate episode, it was hinted that the women don’t really interact much.
On a road trip to San Francisco, Meri Brown noted that "spending that much time together for the wives was like going into ‘uncharted’ territory!"
"She explained that she and [wives Janelle, Christine, and Robyn] really don’t see each other very much ... they’re too busy with their own lives."
Says a source close to the production of the popular TLC reality show:
“The sister wives even admitted to getting seriously uncomfortable when they are together and Kody phones one of them in front of the others."
“While we know that the Browns aren’t one huge, happy family all of the time, now it seems like the reality is that Kody may have four very separate families."
"And furthermore, that each wife, clings to her relationship with him.”
It is unclear just how much the Sister Wives finale will affect its future, but shows have weathered worse scandals (if you can call it that) and survived.
Kody says polygamy makes him a better person and is married to four women. If that hasn't doomed the show, how will a little scripted drama?
On the flip side, plenty have bitten the dust due to controversies ...
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