AfterChristine Brownstruggled to find the right time to tell herSister Wivesshe planned toleave Kody, the TLC star finally revealed the shocking news.

“It’s no secret that Kody and I have been in a rough spot for a long time,” she told the women. “I have decided to leave Kody. It’s a hard decision. I need to make a choice for happiness. I need to make a choice to have joy in my life and peace and there hasn’t been a lot of hope at all until I decided to leave. I feel strongly this is the best choice for me.”

SISTER WIVES, Kody Brown (center), surrounded by wives Meri, Janelle, Christine, and wife-to-be Robyn Sullivan, (Season 1), 2010-. photo: Bryant Livingston / © TLC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Last November, Christineannouncedon Instagram thather spiritual marriage to Kody was over. In September 2021, she relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, and still lives there with daughterTruely, 12. (The exes are also parents to sonPaedon, 24, and daughtersAspyn, 27;Mykelti, 26;Gwendlyn, 20, andYsabel, 19.)

Christine Brown.Kim Raff

Christine Brown, Sister Wives cast member, is photographed at her home in Murray, Utah o4 Aug. 1, 2022. Kim Raff for PEOPLE

While Kody and Christine’s marriage hadn’t been functioning well for some time, the news of the split still came as a surprise to the other wives.

Kody Brown with his wives and children.Joe Pugliese/TLC/Everett

SISTER WIVES, Kody Brown (center), with wives and children, (Season 1), 2010-. photo: Joe Pugliese / © TLC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Meri later told cameras: “This is just a big announcement. I’m just processing at this point. I’m not happy right now. I’m not happy with the situation. It makes me angry. C’mon you guys can’t we all just get our heads out of our butts?”

But Janelle, who hasremained closest to Christine, already had an idea that big changes were headed for their family.

“I intellectually knew this was coming. But here we are today. It’s hard to know something and then to actually have it happen,” she said.

TLC (2)

Sister Wives: Christine and Kody Brown Discuss Best Way to Tell Other Wives of Their Split

While Kody has struggled to accept the fact that Christine wanted to end their marriage, he did acknowledge it’s been a long time coming.

“Ithink that our relationship has been so bad for so long is specific to Christine’s change of heart regarding plural marriage,” he said. “I think that I was spread so think and she needed a certain level of attention led us to where we’re at and plural marriage just hasn’t worked for her for many, many years.”

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Sister Wivesairs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

source: people.com