In the emotional and tension-filled Season 19 One-on-One special of Sister Wives, Meri Brown finds herself at the center of controversy once again—and this time, it’s not just about old wounds being reopened, but about Cody Brown finally putting words to years of unresolved tension. And while the family made a collective and respectful decision not to speak publicly about the tragic passing of Garrison Brown—something that was appreciated and honored by fans—what was discussed shook the fandom to its core.
Janelle’s calm demeanor and sense of peace during her interviews was a refreshing sight for many viewers who’ve watched her struggle over the past seasons. But that serenity was quickly contrasted by the bombshells dropped in Meri’s direction. The tone shifted when a clip aired showing Kody stating that he had emotionally checked out of his relationship with Meri long ago but hadn’t told her because he was afraid of how she might react.
This vague comment quickly turned into the focal point of heated discussion. Meri, for her part, laughed off Kody’s claim, sarcastically wondering what he could have possibly been “afraid of.” But when pressed, Kody refused to go into detail. His evasiveness only fueled the mystery—what was he so afraid of? What happened between them that made him check out emotionally but remain physically present?
Cue Christine, who—true to form—gave some clarity. Without throwing Meri completely under the bus, Christine explained that “back in the day,” Meri was unpredictable and often had very strong emotional reactions. She delicately acknowledged that while Meri has grown and changed in recent years, it wasn’t always easy dealing with her. Christine’s honesty gave context to Kody’s hesitation and validated, in part, his claim of being cautious around Meri.
Despite Christine’s careful words, Meri remained adamant: she didn’t know what Kody was talking about and insisted she had never done anything to warrant that kind of fear. But the truth wouldn’t stay buried for long.
Eventually, after persistent questioning, Kody finally opened up—revealing a moment that shocked many. He claimed that Meri had actually kicked him out of her house. He wasn’t the one who walked away—she had pushed him out. Kody described lying in bed in Meri’s home while she giggled upstairs on the phone with someone else. According to him, that moment made it clear their relationship was over.
For those who’ve followed the show closely, this immediately reignited memories of Meri’s infamous catfish scandal. While Meri continues to act like the incident never happened, viewers haven’t forgotten. And neither, it seems, has Kody.
Christine stayed quiet during this portion of the interview but appeared visibly uncomfortable, suggesting the issue was deeper than what had been publicly shared. Meanwhile, fans started connecting the dots—and many believe that Kody’s fear and emotional withdrawal stem directly from the betrayal and fallout of that online affair.
Even more eyebrow-raising was the speculation involving Robyn and her friend Kendra, who were allegedly connected to Meri’s catfish. Kendra, Robyn’s friend—not a family friend—reportedly knew more than she let on about the true identity of the catfish, and some fans are convinced that Robyn and Kendra had a hand in exposing or perhaps even setting up the situation. It’s a tangled web that fans are still trying to unravel, especially considering that Meri still refuses to openly discuss the matter. 
But Kody didn’t stop there. In a surprising flashback moment, he brought up what happened after their legal divorce, which had been arranged so he could legally marry Robyn and adopt her children. Kody claimed that after their divorce, he gave Meri a special ring and they were physically intimate. Meri, however, scoffed at this revelation, calling it “prude” and dismissing it as unnecessary to bring up.
Yet her expression said it all. Viewers couldn’t help but feel that, despite her words, there were lingering feelings on Meri’s side—even if she doesn’t want to admit them now.
And while Meri has often criticized others in the family for avoiding accountability, this episode made it clear that she herself might be doing just that. If the family is ever going to move forward, Meri may need to start owning her part in the downfall of her marriage to Kody—not just deflecting and denying.
Host Sukanya “Suki” Krishnan deserves credit for steering this one-on-one in a new direction. Where in past seasons Kody would often shut down and even walk out when asked tough questions, this time he stayed put—although he did try hard to dodge. But Suki wasn’t having it. She pressed forward, asked again, and eventually got Kody to reveal the truth about being kicked out of Meri’s home. It’s a huge win for fans who’ve wanted more accountability and less evasion in these sit-down interviews.
So, where does that leave Meri? At this point, it seems she’s caught between who she used to be and who she wants to become. But if Season 19’s one-on-one special showed us anything, it’s that the past still looms large—and pretending it didn’t happen won’t make it go away.
Be sure to catch Part Two of the One-on-One special airing Sunday, June 1st on TLC at 9/8c. The drama is far from over.
