LEON ALONE Inside Sister Wives star Leon Brown’s life away from the show and estranged dad Kody after suffering ‘darkest days’
SISTER Wives star Leon Brown has distanced themselves from their reality TV family and opened up about some of their darkest times.
The only child of patriarch Kody, 54, and his first wife, Meri, 52, has been giving fans rare glimpses of their new life in Denver, Colorado.
![Sister Wives star Leon Brown has distanced themselves from their famous family](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/big-changes-sister-wives-meri-790887075.jpg)
![A source told The U.S. Sun that Kody doesn't support Leon's decision to get gender-affirming surgery and the two have been estranged](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/sister-wives-kody-brown-slams-783950815.jpg)
![Leon is the only child of Kody and his first wife Meri](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/sister-wives-meri-brown-shocks-817543981.jpg)
Most recently, Leon showed off their fit figure in a mirror selfie on their Instagram Stories, donning a tight black t-shirt from their college days.
The 28-year-old – who graduated from Westminster College, now known as Westminster University – paired the top with denim pants and brown boots.
They flexed their toned arms in the mirror while standing in the doorway.
Leon captioned the pic: “Found this old tee, but my alma mater isn’t a college anymore.
“It grew up and became a university. Weird. Lots of laughs.”
Sister Wives fans seldom see the former TV star since they left the TLC series years earlier and moved away from their family’s Flagstaff, Arizona homes in June 2022.
WEDDING BELLS
In August, The U.S. Sun broke the news that Leon secretly wed their fiancé Audrey Kriss, 27.
According to their marriage certificate, the couple tied the knot on October 29, 2022, at a house in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The ceremony was “self-solemnized” as no judge or officiant was present.
Leon and Audrey got engaged in January 2019 at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Sun confirmed that neither Kody nor Meri were present for their child’s big day.
Meri was in Disneyland in Anaheim, California, with a friend at the time, while Kody has been estranged from his firstborn since Leon underwent gender-affirming surgery.
KODY’S ESTRANGEMENT
Leon – birth name Mariah – came out as trans in June 2022, and a source told The U.S. Sun that “Kody has not supported Leon’s transition.”
The insider added: “Kody is telling close friends, ‘This is a new person. I don’t know who this person is, but this is not the little girl that I raised.’
“They don’t have a relationship anymore, and because of it, it has affected his relationship with Meri, 100 percent.”
Despite Kody’s decision, Meri has stood by their child’s side and has been vocal about doing so on social media.
Meri shared a sweet selfie with Leon in July and captioned it: “Best part of today. That is all. @leointhemountains.”
She also commented on one of Leon’s recent Instagram posts, showing her support.
Leon said in the post: “Feeling gay, trans, grateful, HOME. reminder that trans people cannot be legislated out of existence. we will keep being born, keep living, keep thriving, & finding our joy… being trans is a gift, one i love very much.”
Their mother responded: “And you are my gift, one I love very much.”
A source told The U.S. Sun about the pair’s bond: “Leon is her only child, and she wasn’t going to disown them.
“She will pick Leon over Kody every day.”
Meri ended her marriage with Kody in January, following suit with two of his other wives, Janelle, 54, and Christine, 51.
He now only has one spouse – his fourth wife, Robyn, 44.
‘DARKEST DAYS’
Despite the family’s divide, Leon appears to be in a good place, though they recently reflected on their difficult childhood in an Instagram post.
Last month, they shared photos with their partner Audrey as they attended a Joy Oladokun and Brandi Carlile concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.
They opened up about how the music changed their life while making a confession about their upbringing in the caption:
“Joy’s music has gotten me through some of my darkest days. “I sobbed watching them play ‘somehow’ at red rocks.”
Leon continued: “As a queer kid who was also raised in a church that taught me to hate myself, joy’s music deeply resonates with me.”
“I can’t really think of words other than— thank you, joy, for creating art so life-affirming & hope giving, your music has truly changed my life.”
![Meri has shown support of Leon - birth name Mariah - on social media](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/big-changes-sister-wives-meri-790887053.jpg)
![Leon tied the knot with their partner Audrey Kriss in August in Colorado Springs, Colorado](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/sister-wives-leon-brown-secretly-839882564.jpg)