TLC has a history of featuring families who are publicly presented in one way but act suspiciously in another. The channel featured Kody Brown and Jim Bob Duggar as slightly goofy heads of their huge families. Both the Brown and Duggar families have skyrocketed to fame 19 Children and counting and Sister Wife. As men’s seemingly nefarious sides began to emerge, why did TLC continue to give them a platform and the huge paychecks that went with it?

Why did TLC give public platforms to Kody Brown and Jim Bob Duggar?

both 19 Children and counting and Sister Wife they were great for TLC. The Brown and Duggar families became extremely popular as viewers’ interest in these oversized clans peaked.

However, both Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown ruled their families with iron fists. They are alleged to have used tactics such as mandatory family contracts to maintain their lucrative television careers.

The Duggar family’s conservative views and religious beliefs have been a major draw for viewers. Jim Bob’s family was members of IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principles) and Kody Brown’s family was aligned with AUB (Apostolic United Brethren). However, faith began to take a back seat to some of the men’s more questionable methods of keeping their families together, so the TLC money kept flowing.

So why did TLC continue to give platforms to Kody and Jim Bob? Because their shows were extremely profitable for the network.

Jim Bob’s 19 Children and counting was a ratings winner until the show was canceled in 2015 after reports emerged that Josh had inappropriately touched his sisters when he was 14. Sister Wife continues to dominate its time slot on TLC as the series continues its 19th season.

19 Children and counting was one of TLC’s most-watched shows. It attracted 3.2 million viewers per episode. Sister Wife typically attracted 2 million viewers for each installment. That’s a lot of money for TLC and the Duggar and Brown families, who have cashed in on viewers’ interest.

How are Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown alike?

Jim Bob Duggar and Kody Brown seemed similarly enamored with the lure of a big network payday. Both men realized that reality TV stardom was better than financially kidnapping to provide for their large clans.

Jill Duggar wrote in her book Counting costs that before reality TV fame, the Duggars lived in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house and subsisted on canned beans, ramen noodles, and frozen burritos.

Her sister Jinger agreed with her sister’s claims of food insecurity. Jinger claimed “The Jinger and Jeremy Podcast” that her siblings will eat their food in the bathroom for fear that another sibling won’t eat it.

One of the Browns’ children also spoke about food insecurity. One video for the couple’s PatreonMykelti Brown discussed this element of her childhood.

“So in Wyoming, my family, my father’s father owned a farm, and there was a bakery on their farm. One of the things I ate a lot of was bakery toss. They were “old-fashioned”, the stuff they couldn’t sell. That’s a lot of what I grew up with, as well as MREs or ready-to-eat meals.”

Both men reportedly abused their children financially by not paying them for their appearances on the show. The money generated by their shows, up to millions of dollars, was held in family LLCs. Kody and Jim Bob controlled the finances, but apparently didn’t share the wealth.

Jill Duggar successfully sued her father for the money he was owed for appearing 19 Children and counting and Jill and Jessa: We were counting on. Thus, none of the Brown children sued Kody for back pay for their appearances on Sister Wife.

TLC canceled Jim Bob Duggar, is Kody Brown far behind?

After allegations that Josh Duggar molested his sisters, TLC canceled 19 Children and counting. However, to keep the Duggar train going, the series was renamed as Jill and Jessa: We were counting on and Josh Duggar did not appear in the series.

In 2021, Josh was arrested on child pornography charges. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, and the family show was later canceled.

Yet, Sister Wife remains a profitable streak for TLC. There have never been allegations similar to the Duggar family within the Brown clan.

However, Kody Brown has acted questionablyy serial to wives Meri, Janelle and Christine Brown. His behavior could be considered emotionally abusive towards these women and their children.

In a reaction video on her Patreon, Kody’s daughter Gwendlyn Brown claimed that Kody was “physically abusive” to her as a child of a slap. She said: “I know some of you may not agree that beating is abuse and it is.”

She concluded: “It’s an excessive way to discipline your children and there are better ways that won’t leave them emotionally damaged. I personally remember getting bruised a few times when my father beat me.”

Sister Wife airs Sundays at 10pm EST on TLC.

How to get help: In the US, call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member at a sexual assault service provider in your area.