Kody Brown has been holding onto his relationships with his spouses for dear life throughout the past Sister Wives seasons, but the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic could be the straw that breaks the polygamist's back. In the upcoming Sister Wives season 16, Kody will struggle to meet the demands of his four wives as the reality stars have disparate approaches to maintaining their family during the tumultuous first months of COVID. From allowing the family to spend Christmas separately to the downward trajectory most of his spiritual marriages have already been on, here's why fans think Kody's using the coronavirus as an excuse to give up on his plural family.

For years, Sister Wives fans have accused Kody of only putting effort into one of his four marriages. Since he got married to his fourth wife, Robyn, Kody has shifted all of his affection away from his first trio of wives. Even though he's been married to Meri since 1990, Kody was quick to throw in the towel when it came to their relationship. Despite Kody confessing he regrets tying the knot with Meri, the pair has somehow managed to hold onto each other just enough to stay together. With Janelle, the patriarch doesn't attempt to have a romantic relationship with his second wife like he once had. Of course, Kody's relationship with Christine was on thin ice and it was during the pandemic that the thread between the exes finally snapped.

Related: Sister Wives: Why Fans Think Kody's Actually Happy That Christine Left

Before COVID-19, Kody managed to hold onto his relationships by putting the bare minimum amount of effort into his first three marriages. When the pandemic shattered society, however, some Sister Wives fans believe Kody found an opportunity to finally give up on his weak relationships with Meri, Janelle, and Christine. In a new preview for the upcoming season 16, Kody discusses his plans for celebrating Christmas within the context of COVID. To the dismay of Meri, Christine, and Janelle, Kody shared his plan is for the Brown family to celebrate the holidays separately. Unsurprisingly, this was a big blow to Kody's first wives with whom he would be spending less time. In response to this cold-hearted scene, Sister Wives fans speculated Kody's using COVID as justification for forfeiting his relationships with his first wives. One Reddit user simply reacted to Kody's surrender with, "Wow, just wow."

Kody Brown in Sister Wives

Additionally, other Sister Wives fans had more detailed thoughts about Kody's decision to spend Christmas away from most of his polygamous family. One commenter theorized, "[Kody's] only being so 'careful' about covid because it's a convenient excuse to take a step back from his... family." Viewers agreed if Kody wanted to figure out a way to get all of his family together for the holidays, he could've devised a way to accomplish that safely. By giving up so easily, fans think Kody would rather just spend Christmas with Robyn and her children than come up with a clever way for all of his wives to be included. Another user asserted, "[Kody] and Robyn really used the pandemic as a means to live together fully in my opinion." 

COVID has affected everyone differently, and Kody has become less enthusiastic about prioritizing all members of his extensive family as a result of the outbreak. Fans have always speculated Kody only wants to spend time with Robyn and the pandemic appears to be a clever way the polygamist can neglect his other wives guilt-free. The most wonderful time of the year might turn out to be the downfall of the Sister Wives family.

Next: Sister Wives: Why Fans Are Attacking Robyn After Christine & Kody Split

Sources: dianna1976/Reddit, ablogforblogging/Reddit, HanBan30/Reddit