‘Sister Wives’ Star Meri Brown Speaks Out after Tragic Loss of Janelle & Kody’s Son Garrison at 25

Meri Brown, a central figure in the polygamous family featured in the reality TV show "Sister Wives," has shared a heart-wrenching post on Instagram, mourning the loss of Robert Garrison Brown, the son of Kody Brown and Janelle Brown.

In a touching tribute, Meri Brown posted a photo of Robert Garrison Brown during his time in the National Guard, accompanied by a poignant caption: "Our family is deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy, Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him." She added, "Garrison, you are loved and will be missed! 💙💙"

The family asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of one of their beloved children. This tragic news has deeply affected the Brown family, who are the stars of the TLC show "Sister Wives," which follows the lives of a polygamist family. In January of the last year, Meri Brown spoke candidly about her relationship with Kody, addressing misconceptions and stating her stance with remarkable clarity and strength:

She shared that a month before her post, a publication had reported that she and Kody and confirmed the end of their relationship. However, the report was inaccurate. She shared, "The information, content, and timing was inaccurate and was based on a highly edited version of events that had been filmed months prior. In the months since the taping of those interviews, Kody and I have had many open and honest discussions that have led to our announcement today."

Meri shared that there was still much of her truth that she needed to share, and that she would in due time, but at the moment of posting she was at peace and held no ill feelings toward Kody. She affirmed, "I am not, and pray that I never will be, in a place where I will enjoy making, or seeing you make, rude and demeaning comments about him. You likely will have a range of emotions and opinions at this news and want to offer comments. In doing so, please be considerate of the fact that we are real people, with real lives, and real emotions."

She also asked that her fans refrain from congratulating her on the dissolution of her marriage as she valued the relationship she and Kody had shared for years and wanted to step into the new chapter of her life with power, kindness, and grace. She asked that her fans do so with her.

Furthermore, a significant revelation came from a clip of the show aired in October last year, where Robert shared his achievements and the estrangement from his father, Kody, with his siblings. Robert disclosed that since he had last spoken to his father, he had bought a house, gotten into school, and bought the car he longed for which his father told him not to purchase.

He added that Kody didn't know of these milestones because "he [didn't] care to." In contrast, Kody mentioned he had reached out to both Robert and his brother, Gabriel, but was met with disinterest in engaging with him. He shared that both of his sons and had blocked him out of their lives.

As previously reported on March 6:

In an unexpected and heartbreaking turn of events, the world of reality TV mourns the loss of Garrison Brown, the 25-year-old son of "Sister Wives" stars Kody and Janelle Brown. Garrison's untimely death has sparked a wave of controversy and blame directed towards his father, with many fans and followers expressing their grievances and pointing fingers at him for his son's demise.

Garrison—one of the six children Kody shares with Janelle, including Logan, Maddie, Hunter, Gabriel, and Savanah Brown—was remembered by fans as someone who deeply yearned for his father's attention and love. This sentiment was echoed in the comments section of an Instagram post that Kody made last year about his divorce from one of his wives, Meri Brown.

People left messages like, "You could have prevented this…" and "He JUST needed LOVE from a father. RIP Garrison 🙏🏻." Others accused Kody of neglect, stating, "He probably did it to finally get your attention!!!! I was literally horrified when I saw him on TV begging for you to phone him and you continued to ignore him and blame him 💔💔💔💔," and “Hope you feel the weight of this!!!! The guilt you will have!”

The collective outcry from the public underlines a deep-seated belief that Kody's actions, or lack thereof, significantly contributed to Garrison's tragic end.

The root of this blame seems to stem from a history of perceived neglect and favoritism within the Brown family. Last year, Garrison's mother recalled her children's feelings of inequality in their relationship with Kody and mentioned how they felt sidelined by him as he appeared to favor other members of their polygamous family.

"They felt like he was choosing one family over another,” Janelle shared, shedding light on the deep-seated issues within their family dynamic.

In a TLC video published in October last year, where the Brown family was discussing Kody's relationships with his children, she further explained, “I can observe that Kody seems to have trouble relating to his older children, and he seems to dote on the younger children, and when my children were younger,[...] his guidance mattered to them [...] Now, because they question it a little bit, I think it might be harder for Kody to feel like he’s respected.”

This narrative was further highlighted when the same video showed a clip of Garrison Brown discussing his life achievements, like buying a home and car, all of which Kody seemed unaware of or uninterested in. In response to these portrayals, Kody claimed he had reached out to his sons on two occasions, and expressed his belief that Garrison and his brother Gabriel were not interested in engaging with him.

The Brown family patriarch also previously spoke about feeling "powerless" as a father figure and admitted that his family had begun to "unravel" due to their inability to work through differences and varying perspectives.

As the Brown family navigates through this difficult time, the dialogue surrounding Garrison's death raises important questions about the responsibilities of parenthood, the challenges of growing up in a divided household, and the impact of reality TV and fame on personal relationships. The young adult's passing has left a void in the hearts of many, including his family, friends, and fans around the world.

As previously reported on March 6:

Robert Garrison Brown, known affectionately to the public as one of the bright young faces on the hit TLC series "Sister Wives," has died, leaving a community in mourning and a family grappling with an unimaginable void.

The Flagstaff Police Department, responding to a distressing call on the morning of March 5, 2024, arrived at Robert's residence to a tragic scene. The 25-year-old, who had established his independence with his own home after moving away from his family, was found deceased.

Lieutenant Charles M. Hernandez II of the Flagstaff Police Department disclosed that Robert's younger brother, Gabriel, age 22, made the heart-wrenching discovery. The preliminary investigation suggests a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with no indication of foul play. As the Flagstaff PD continues their meticulous investigation, the absence of any apparent foul play leads them to approach this as an apparent suicide.

Robert's journey on "Sister Wives" commenced in 2010, at the inception of the series. Viewers were introduced to the polygamous family, with Robert's father, Kody Brown, at the helm, married to multiple wives, including Robert's mother, Janelle Brown. The show not only captured the dynamics of Kody's relationships but also highlighted the upbringing and lives of the Brown children, with Robert becoming a familiar, endearing fixture.

The recent years saw changes in the Brown family dynamic, including the divorce of Janelle and Kody in the previous year. Despite the changes, the children's bond throughout the adversity remained resolute. The children often posted one another on social media, with Robert being no exception.

Robert's passage into adulthood was marked by a commendable interest in serving his country. Initially aspiring to join the Army, Robert found his calling with the National Guard, a commitment that spoke volumes of his character and his desire to contribute to something greater than himself.

TLC, home to the series that chronicled Robert's upbringing and his family's unique lifestyle, released a statement expressing their devastation at the news of Robert's passing. The network extended their deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Brown family during this extraordinarily painful time.

Janelle shared poignant photos of her son on Instagram during his time of service, her words painting a portrait of a mother's love and a tribute to a life cut tragically short. "Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown," her caption read. "He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory."

In a solemn acknowledgment of their bereavement, Robert's family chose his own Instagram platform to communicate the news. A statement read, "Our beloved brother/son Robert (aka Garrison) passed late last night. We appreciate the love and support from all those who have given it." It concluded with a plea for privacy during their time of profound grief.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.