‘Sister Wives’ Children Claim TLC Exploited Them Without Compensation

When Sister Wives first aired in 2010, the Brown family immediately captivated viewers with their unconventional lifestyle.

The show offered an intimate look into the lives of Kody Brown and his then three wives—Meri, Janelle, and Christine—soon to be joined by a fourth, Robyn. But what fascinated fans just as much as the plural marriage was the brood of children growing up in the middle of it all.

They weren’t just background characters. The Brown children became an integral part of the series, their milestones and struggles unfolding onscreen.

But now, nearly two decades later, some of those kids are pulling back the curtain on what it really meant to grow up on reality TV—and their revelations are raising eyebrows.

Growing Up On Set

Gwendlyn Brown, the daughter of Kody and Christine, has emerged as one of the most vocal among her siblings.

Just eight years old when filming began, she recalls the early days of Sister Wives with mixed emotions. At the time, the cameras felt like part of the family, and fame was an exciting novelty.

“We just got thrown into fame and thrown into money,” Gwendlyn shared, reflecting on her early experiences. “And I stopped wanting and needing things. Life is a lot easier for a kid that’s not going hungry. It was quite a blessing initially.”

The exposure, she admits, changed everything. The financial boost helped her family move beyond what she described as a “poverty” lifestyle. But the trade-off wasn’t so simple.

Fame Without a Paycheck

As Gwendlyn grew older, her view of the situation shifted. What once felt like an adventure began to feel like a job—with no compensation.

“The network only paid the parents,” she revealed. “I’m not sure if they did or didn’t expect the parents to pay us kids, but we weren’t paid.”

Despite appearing regularly on the show and often shouldering adult-like responsibilities, the Brown children received no direct payment from the network, according to Gwendlyn. The kids, like her, became central to the show’s appeal—but saw none of the financial rewards.

A Mother’s Intervention

Christine Brown eventually tried to change that. After realizing the extent of her children’s involvement in filming, she began offering them payment for their time. It wasn’t substantial, according to Gwendlyn, but it was a step in the right direction.

Christine has publicly stated that while the kids weren’t paid at first, she made efforts later on to set money aside for them as they got older.

Still, for many fans, it doesn’t feel like enough. As one of the show’s most empathetic figures, Christine’s move is seen by supporters as a heartfelt—if overdue—gesture.

Meanwhile, TLC addressed the controversy without diving into the specifics of the children’s arrangements, stating: “Compensation is handled in accordance with contractual commitments and applicable labor laws and regulations.” The statement avoided clarifying whether the kids ever had contracts of their own.

Support for Gwendlyn

As Gwendlyn’s candid comments made the rounds, fans rallied behind her. Comments poured in from viewers who praised her honesty and resilience:

“GWENNNNNNN with all due respect to her wife of course.”

“Love Gwen!!!”

“Aww, I love this for @gwendlynbrown, such an inspiration.”

Her openness has sparked deeper conversations about how children in reality TV are treated, particularly in long-running shows that build empires on the backs of family dynamics.

As the Sister Wives saga continues to evolve, it’s the voices of those who grew up under its lens that are finally demanding to be heard.

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