For Gabriel Brown, an apology from his father, Kody Brown, came too late to mend their fractured relationship. Their initial disagreement over Kody’s strict COVID-19 guidelines led to a prolonged estrangement, which persisted even as pandemic restrictions eased.

Janelle Brown, who shares six children with Kody—sons Logan, Hunter, Garrison, and Gabriel, as well as daughters Madison and Savanah—explained that Kody felt his children had been disloyal by not adhering to his rules during the pandemic. This caused a rift that was difficult to bridge.

In an October 2024 episode of Sister Wives, Gabriel shared with Janelle a pivotal conversation he had with Kody. “He kept suggesting I owed him an apology,” Gabriel recounted. “I finally said, ‘Unless you’re genuinely ready to work on our relationship, we shouldn’t continue talking.’ A few days later, he texted me, saying he’d been reflecting on our conversation and added, ‘I forgive you. Please forgive me.’ I just thought, ‘Forgive me for what?’”

Once close enough to join Kody on business trips, Gabriel is left puzzled over what he had done wrong. Nonetheless, he told Janelle, “I’ve made it clear to Dad that if he doesn’t change and take responsibility, I’m willing to end our relationship. And I’m completely fine with that decision.”