Kody Brown of Sister Wives declares he’s done with marriage after reaching his lowest point

The cast of ‘Sister Wives’ recently spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about their previous perception of plural marriage and its unraveling. Kody Brown, who was once an advocate for harmonious polygamy, has seen his lifelong aspirations crumble over the past two years after decades of expanding his family. At 54, Kody had established “spiritual unions” with four women: Christine, Janelle, Robyn, and Meri Brown. However, in just 14 months, Kody’s marriage circle has dramatically reduced to one, with Robyn as his sole remaining spouse at the age of 44. This unexpected monogamous situation has shifted Kody’s prospects for the future considerably. He stated, “Given the experiences I’ve been through, I can’t envision myself marrying again. It feels as though I’ve hit rock bottom in a profound metaphorical pool, yet I’ve propelled myself upwards, toward the surface.” The current issue of PEOPLE magazine contains the full story.

At the beginning of their polygamous marriage, Kody and his four wives portrayed a harmonious coexistence. However, their journey was far from peaceful. The wives’ jealousy caused conflicts, and their children suffered emotional neglect. Furthermore, legal issues complicated their polyamorous union. One of Kody’s wives, Janelle, now 54, admits that she had viewed plural marriage as idyllic but was proven wrong. While her relationship with Kody was smooth, managing the complex family dynamic was an overwhelming challenge.

The ex-wives of Kody are moving forward in their individual paths with a positive outlook. Meri, aged 52, is focused on exploring new opportunities and keeping her options open. Janelle has no regrets about her journey with her former husband and believes that every experience has led them to where they are now. She confidently states that she would repeat everything again. Christine, who is 51 years old, stresses that leaving their old arrangement does not mean that they have failed. Instead, it is a transformation that will lead to growth and progress. Fans can catch Season 18 of ‘Sister Wives’ on TLC on August 20th at 10 p.m. ET.