Janelle confirmed the news on Instagram shorlly after learning of her son’s passing. She wrote:
“Kody and I are 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.
“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.”
Garrison appeared on numerous episodes of Sister Wives and had been in the news fairly often over the past few years due to his feud with his dad.
The 25-year old and his brother, Gabe, stopped talking to their father in 2021 due to the very strict rules and regulations Kody put in place amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The father of 17 basically forbid his kids from seeing any friends or significant others out of concern for their safety (or mostly his own, as Kody admitted back then), resulting in Garrison eventually buying his own home in order get some distance from this parent.
As far as we know? At the time of his death?
Garrison was still not close to Kody at all.
Kody Brown is likely saying something selfish in this scene. (TLC)
Kody & Garrison: Their Relationship On and Off Screen
Kody has confessed to being an awful father, while Janelle said on the Sister Wives: Look Back special in December 2022 that Garrison was “somewhat” in communication with Kody.
But she also made it clear back then there had been “no reconciliation” between father and son.
Again, it’s all extremely sad.
It’s just a heartbreaking tragedy.
But many observers now can’t help but wonder whether it will have an impact on the future of this TLC series.
Janelle Brown is featured here on the Sister Wives tell-all special. (Image Credit: TLC)
We believe cameras are rolling on episodes that likely won’t air until early 2025; yes, that’s how far ahead they shoot installments for most reality shows.
However, is it really appropriate to air these episodes in the wake of Garrison’s death?
How will any storyline be received, how will executives justify covering any topic, that is NOT Garrison’s suicide?
And if Sister Wives does become a program dedicated just to the tragedy of Garrison Brown, might this come across like producers are exploiting the young man’s passing?
Kody Brown and Janelle Brown share the screen here. They no longer share a marriage. (TLC)
There’s no easy answer here. And there’s also no clear answer.
We simply don’t know right now.
What we do know is that while numerous members of the Brown family have been sharing words of shock and sorrow in response to this tragedy, Garrison’s friend Bryson Cook is calling for the show to end in the name of his friend.
On March 11, Cook shared a handful of photos of himself, Garrison and some other pals, penning a lengthy caption along with this montage that opened as follows:
“You told me you’d always be there for me. You said you’d speak at my future wedding and that you’d want us all to live next to each other once we settled down.
“I remember the days where you would be the one convincing me to stay for all three hours of church.”
“I remember the late night chats about life and the future. I’m mad at you Robert, I’m mad you left without talking to me one last time. I KNOW I’ll get to see you again and we can hug it out then, but for now I’m angry…. I miss you buddy.”
Of particular note to many observers, Bryson concluded his statement by including the hashtag #cancelsisterwives
He did not elaborate any firther.
The Toll of The Show On The Kids
Janelle and Kody have five kids aside from Garrison, who fans first met on air back in 2010: Madison, Logan, Gabriel, Hunter and Savanah.
Over the years, as previously cited, Kody’s relationship with his children had become strained.
In a confessional interview at one point in 2022, Janelle expressed concern over her children’s lack of connection with their father.
“I have worried about my boys’ mental health. Gabriel feels everything very, very deeply. But he’s also the kid who doesn’t say anything,” she said before adding that Garrison “just seems angry or sadder, like, he’s not as happy-go-lucky as he used to be.”
Janelle Brown addresses the camera in this confessional from Season 18. (Image Credit: TLC)
Added Kody on a May 2023 episode:
“I haven’t been in touch with Gabriel and Garrison for quite a while.
“I’m pretty sad that I’m not close [to them] anymore. There was just so many things in our lives that we did that were rich together, you know, just special experiences.
“I think and hope that in time we’ll just get over this and that we’ll be safe being back around each other. Right now, there’s not really an open door with Gabe and Garrison.
“They’re they’re not willing to engage me.”
Kody Brown is all dressed up for this Season 18 one-on-one special. (TLC)
On Tuesday, meanwhile, Lieutenant Charles M. Hernandez II of the Flagstaff Police Department confirmed the following:
“On 03/05/2024 Flagstaff Police officers responded to a report of a death inside a home.”
The FPD confirmed that Garrison’s brother Gabriel “discovered Mr. Brown deceased” in an apparent suicide.
TLC then issued a statement that read:
“We are devastated to hear of the tragic loss of Garrison Brown. We extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Brown family at this difficult time.”
