In a dramatic twist revealed during the Sister Wives Season 19 One-on-One special, viewers are left stunned as Janelle opens up about deep-seated family rifts—and a shocking secret: Leon Brown, the only child of Meri and Kody Brown, has quietly married their longtime partner, Audrey Kriss.
But before this emotional reveal, the episode takes us back through the aftermath of Christine’s decision to leave Kody. That one move created a seismic shift within the Brown family. Christine’s departure didn’t just signify the end of a marriage—it signaled the beginning of a total family unraveling. Since then, emotions have been raw, especially for the children who have borne witness to years of growing tension, favoritism, and emotional distance.Kody’s relationship with Robyn has long been a point of contention. His favoritism for her and her children alienated much of the rest of the family. As Janelle recounts, this division intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Robyn’s strict household rules and Kody’s decision to spend the majority of his time there left his other kids feeling abandoned and second-class.
This rift didn’t just linger—it deepened. During the One-on-One, Janelle reveals that some of Kody’s children have come forward to express remorse for how things played out, especially toward Robyn’s children. Madison (Janelle and Kody’s daughter) and Leon (Meri and Kody’s child) both addressed the strained relationships in emotional interviews. They acknowledged that things were said and done during those years of chaos that unintentionally hurt Robyn’s kids—specifically Aurora and Breanna, who felt rejected and othered by their step-siblings.
The confession became even more poignant when Leon opened up about the emotional toll the family fracture has taken on them. Leon, who came out as transgender and uses they/them pronouns, stepped away from the public eye for some time to focus on their personal journey. In a raw and heartfelt exchange with Maddie, Leon revealed that, in the midst of all the turmoil, they and Audrey Kriss privately tied the knot in an intimate ceremony.
The news of Leon’s secret marriage stunned fans and brought a rare moment of joy amidst the family’s ongoing struggles. Janelle, in particular, expressed admiration for Leon’s courage to be authentic and build a life with someone they love, despite the complications of being in the spotlight and the chaos surrounding the Brown name.
But the special didn’t stop there. Janelle and Meri’s evolving paths post-divorce also took center stage. After Christine’s initial exit from the plural marriage, both Meri and Janelle began re-evaluating their own relationships with Kody. Christine’s bold decision to break free from what she described as a loveless and unequal dynamic inspired the other wives to do the same. 
As revealed during the special, Janelle has fully embraced her independence. She relocated to North Carolina with her daughter Maddie and is now working on a business project called Tada Farms. Meri, meanwhile, moved back to Utah to run her bed-and-breakfast and live life on her terms. While Meri has not legally changed her last name yet, she has removed “Brown” from her Instagram bio, signaling a symbolic break from her past with Kody.
