<em>Sister Wives</em>’ Leon Brown Makes Rare Comment About "Cult" Upbringing

Jason Sargent Friday, August 7, 2026

Sister Wives’ Leon Brown Makes Rare Comment About "Cult" Upbringing

Gabrielle Chung Fri, August 7, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

Leon Brown/Instagram

Originally appeared on E! Online

Leon Brownis getting candid about their childhood in a "family of four parents."

The Sister Wives alum—whose dad Kody Brownwas spiritually married to mom Meri Brown, as well as Janelle Brown and Christine Brown Woolley, when they were born in 1995—detailed their unconventional upbringing in a polygamist household.

"We were in the cult then," Leon said in an Aug. 4 TikTok video. "We were homeschooled until we moved to Utah when I was 10, and then we started going to the same church—cult church—which was sort of like the main one."

According to the 31-year-old—the third oldest of Kody’s 18 kids, including five from Kody's marriage to fourth sister wife Robyn Brown—religion "got a little all encompassing" when they started attending the church's school.

"On Thursdays, we had primary, which is like religious education for children—or religious indoctrination for children," they continued. "There's some religious, like, scrupulosity there. It was rewarding, and I was rewarded for it."

While Leon said they "loved" going to primary classes at the time, they're now "not actually sure" if they enjoyed its teachings looking back.

"Who's to say?" they added. "This is like weird because I don't talk about this a lot."

But Leon isn't the only one of the Browns who has described their family life as a "cult." Christine—who was with Kody for more than 25 years before their 2021 breakup—believes she "grew up in a cult" within a "fundamentalist, polygamist Mormon” community.

“I believe I raised my children in a cult," the mom of six wrote in her 2025 memoir Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Finding Freedom. "I hadn’t been brainwashed. But just like everyone else, I had a tunnel of thoughts with a particular set of boundaries."

Christine said she had a revelation when some of her kids "figured it out as young adults." with her daughter Gwendlyn, 24, coming back from chuch camp one day telling her how “all these girls want to do is have babies."

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While Leon said they "loved" going to primary classes at the time, they're now "not actually sure" if they enjoyed its teachings looking back.

"Who's to say?" they added. "This is like weird because I don't talk about this a lot."

Christine said she had a revelation when some of her kids "figured it out as young adults," with her daughter Gwendlyn, 24, coming back from church camp one day telling her how “all these girls want to do is have babies."

“As I became stronger in my own identity, I thought, God is fine with me, and I am fine with him,” the 54-year-old shared. “I didn’t need to be part of a church, and I didn’t need to buy into ideas about men’s place over women or pierced ears.”

Puddle Monkey Prods/Figure 8/Kobal/Shutterstock

And ultimately, Christine, who has been married to David Woolley since 2023, walked away from her church before her split from Kody.

“The good parts of me didn’t go away with my Jesus jammies," she added. "I believe in treating people well and fairly. I believe all the things my mom taught me. I think there are many different gods and religions and there’s beauty in that.”

For a deeper dive into the Sister Wives family tree, read on...

Logan Taylor Brown

Born May 21, 1994, Logan is the oldest son ofKody BrownandJanelle Brown. He is also the eldest child of 18 in Kody's entire brood.After graduating with a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada in 2020, he marriedMichelle Pettytwo years later.Aspyn Kristin Thompson (née Brown)

Aspyn is the oldest child of Kody andChristine Brown. She was born on March 14, 1995.Also a University of Nevada alum, Aspyn tied the knot withMitch Thompsonin 2018. She announced her pregnancy in April 2025.Leon "Leo" Brown

Born on July 29, 1995, Leon is the only child of Kody andMeri Brown.In 2020, Leoncame out as transgender, sharing that they were previously "socialized as a girl.""I was pretty young & unfortunately i grew up in a context that was incredibly gendered & restrictive," Leon—who also goes by "Leo"—wrote on Instagram. "and here’s the thing, i’m finally ready to share my favorite self with the world. and that self is incredibly genderqueer, trans, and unapologetic."Leon marriedAudrey Krissin 2020 at a Colorado courthouse wedding.Mykelti Ann Padron (née Brown)

The second of Kody and Christine's children, Mykelti was born on June 9, 1996.She marriedAntonio "Tony" Padronin 2016 in a wedding ceremony documented onSister Wives. The couple are parents to daughterAvalonand twin sonsArcherandAce.Madison Rose Brush (née Brown)

Janelle gave birth to Madison—her second child with Kody—on Nov. 3, 1995.After studying at Utah State University, Madison marriedCaleb Brushin 2016. The pair share kidsAxel,EvangalynnandJosephine.Hunter Elias Brown

Janelle and Kody welcomed Hunter—their third child together—on Feb. 9, 1997.Hunter graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2020, before studying nursing at Johns Hopkins University.Paedon Rex Brown

Christine gave birth to her and Kody's third child together on Aug. 7, 1998.Robert Garrison Brown

Born Oct. 31, 1998, Garrison was Kody and Janelle's third youngest child together. Hedied by suicideon March 5, 2024 at age 25.David "Dayton" Preston Brown

Dayton is the oldest child of Kody's fourth wifeRobyn Brownfrom her past marriage withPreston Jessop. He was adopted into the family in 2015, five years after Robyn spiritually married Kody.In 2014, Kody legally divorced his first wife Meri so he could marry Robyn and officially adopt Dayton as his son.Gabriel Winn Brown

Nicknamed Gabe, the fifth child of Kody and Janelle was born on Oct. 11, 2001.Gwendlyn Genielle Queiroz (née Brown)

Kody and Christine welcomed their fourth child on Oct. 15, 2001.Gwendlyn tied the knot withBeatriz Queirozin 2023.Aurora Alice Brown

Aurora is the second oldest child of Robyn. She was legally adopted by Kody in 2015 after he married Robyn the prior year.Ysabel Paige Brown

Kody and Christine welcomed their fifth child together on June 13, 2003.Her struggles with scoliosis have been documented onSister Wives.Breanna Rose Brown

Breanna is Robyn's third child from her marriage to Preston. After Robyn married Kody, Breanna and her older siblings were legally adopted into the family.Savanah Brown

Kody and Janelle welcomed their youngest child together on Dec. 7, 2004. The exes reunitedfor Savanah's high school graduationin 2023.Truely Grace Brown