Sister Wives: Kody Is Making Janelle His Fall Guy, Could There Be Legal Implications For Janelle?

It gets frustrating. My mom calls me the Brown family scapegoat. Well, that’s got to be a hard position. I called my mom, and she just kind of chuckled.

She’s like, “Robyn, all they do is blame you for stuff. You’re just their scapegoat.” Robyn Brown famously declared back in Season 16 that she was the scapegoat of the Brown family.

Let’s be real—that’s not entirely accurate. Nobody was accusing Robyn of anything she wasn’t guilty of. But this season, the actual scapegoat appears to be Janelle. Cody seems to be positioning her as the fall guy for all the financial confusion in the family.

Let’s hope this is just confusion and not something more nefarious because the stakes could be high. If the IRS or another entity starts poking around the Browns’ finances, it could lead to serious trouble for Janelle.

This raises a bigger question: Is fear of mutually assured destruction the reason why Meri and Janelle haven’t gone scorched earth on Cody and Robyn yet? Let’s dig into this mess.

Cody’s Finances: A House of Cards?

Cody and Robyn’s lavish lifestyle has long raised eyebrows. Despite claims of financial separation between Cody and the wives, it’s hard to believe the math adds up.

How can Cody afford such an extravagant way of life? Even small details, like spending thousands monthly on water bills, don’t seem feasible without additional income streams.

Toward the end of their time in Vegas, Cody’s relationships were falling apart. His marriage to Meri was virtually nonexistent, things with Christine were crumbling, and his bond with Janelle was deteriorating.

Cody likely realized that the wives owning their homes independently posed a threat. If any of them decided to leave, as almost happened with Meri during the catfishing scandal, they would have financial independence. Cody couldn’t risk losing their contributions to the family fund.

This is where the move to Flagstaff comes into play. Cody convinced the family to pool their money into the purchase of Coyote Pass—a property with a confusing division of assets that was unlikely ever intended for development.

This setup ensured that the money was no longer liquid and, therefore, harder for a wife to claim if she chose to leave.

Is Janelle the Real Fall Guy?

Cody has a history of keeping the family finances vague and confusing. Until recently, all the adults were reportedly paid as a family by TLC, with Cody managing the funds.

Christine confirmed this, noting that Cody decided how the money was distributed, often prioritizing his and Robyn’s needs.

Now, Christine has filed a lawsuit against Cody, and the courts will dive into his financials to establish child support. If Cody’s finances don’t add up, Janelle could be blamed for mismanagement.

Cody’s tendency to shift blame means that Janelle might bear the brunt of any fallout, even if she was simply following Cody’s instructions.

Reality Check: Cody and Legal Trouble

History has shown that reality TV stars are not immune to financial scandals. From Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (Jersey Shore) to Jen Shah (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City), plenty of stars have faced serious legal consequences for financial crimes. If Cody’s books are messy, he could be heading for a similar reckoning.

However, Cody has consistently shown that he will protect himself at all costs—even if it means throwing someone else under the bus.

If the IRS or other authorities start asking questions, Cody will likely blame Janelle or even Robyn to avoid responsibility.

Final Thoughts

While we can only speculate about the state of Cody’s finances, one thing seems clear: If trouble arises, Janelle may be set up as the scapegoat.

Cody’s control over the family’s financial narrative and his willingness to shift blame make it likely that others will face the consequences of his decisions.

As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and check out my second channel and podcast for more in-depth discussions.

Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s hope the Browns can navigate this storm without further fallout.