Janelle and Kody Brown’s divorce looms in the upcoming episode of Sister Wives.
In Sunday’s episode, Kody, 54, sits down with Janelle, 54, after the pair had some time apart following their big blowout fight. Janelle then requests they maintain their space and continue their separation. (Since the season wrapped filming in 2022, Janelle and Kody have announced their split after 19 years together.)
The clip, however, begins with Janelle explaining to the cameras how she’s felt slighted by Kody’s lack of “attention” to their relationship, as a result of his 2021 divorce from her fellow sister wife Christine Brown.
“Be a man [and] separate your relationships like you have for our entire plural marriage, and pay attention here,” she adds.
The confessional is followed by footage of the couple at a restaurant as they begin to discuss their current relationship status.
After an extended moment of silence between the two, Janelle begins the conversation and directly asserts her future expectations for their relationship. “I do think I want to stay separated for now,” she says.
Kody quickly replies, “Really you want to stay separated?” Janelle then suggests that their separation is the right thing for her to do.
Kody reacts to Janelle’s request in a separate confessional, saying he’s “sort of surprised that she doesn’t want to try and reconcile.”
“We’ve been separated probably two or three times in the past,” he continues. “[It] always felt like that was because she couldn’t manage the relationship with her sister wives. I never felt like that was over.”
As the two continue the conversation, Janelle offers the possibility of attending counseling together, because she still holds “affection” for her longtime husband. Kody agrees, referencing how his relationship with Christine, 51, could have possibly benefited from counseling. “I think that’s more fair. Christine just dropped this on me,” says Kody.
As they discuss what’s next for their relationship, Kody says he felt “rejected” by Janelle and Christine after they celebrated Christmas together with their children but didn’t invite Kody.
While Janelle clarifies they hosted separate celebrations, he explains he wants their relationship and separation to differ from what happened with Christine. “I don’t want to be in a place where we’re just acting like nothing has happened. I think in some ways, that’s what was happening with Christina and I,” he says.
“When I would have conversations with her about our relationship, it was too uncomfortable for us,” he continues. “Yet, she left with me sort of holding the bag, never knowing that she was going to leave. She was making plans and having a discussion with people about leaving.”
As the clip concludes, Janelle tells the cameras how she’s “shocked” by Kody’s reaction to Christine’s divorce. “He purports that he never saw this coming,” she says. “He’s been telling me for years that he wasn’t attracted to Christine. They were struggling in their marriage.”
She concludes, “I would have left his ass the first time he said that to me.”
Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
