“Sister Wives”’ Leon Brown Slams Claim That Dad Kody Has Tried to Reach Out to His Kids, Calls Him a ‘Liar’ and ‘Joke of a Father’

Sister Wives‘ star Leon Brown is shutting down their dad Kody‘s recent claims that he has tried to reach out to his estranged children.

During the latest episode of the TLC show, the 56-year-old reality TV star and dad of 18 talked with wife Robyn about potentially getting a therapist to help him bridge the gap in the relationship with his older children.

“I got to work on on me because I’m angry about what a lot of the kids have said done and believed,” he said during a confessional. “But I’ve also got to have the tools to be able to engage a relationship, putting my feelings aside and inviting them to step into a space where we can communicate safely and lovingly.”

After Robyn told Kody that it would be a good idea, Kody returned to the confessional, adding that he’s “tried to reach out” to all of his children before.

“I’ve reached out to every one of my children, and multiple times,” he said. “And if they don’t have a relationship with me, it’s because they’re not reciprocating.”

The clip is now making its rounds on social media and one of Kody’s children, Leon, whom he shares with his first wife Meri, broke their social media hiatus to address the claims.

“Taking a break from my social media hiatus to say one thing,” Leon wrote in a post on their Instagram Stories. “There’s a ridiculous video of my father circulating where he says he reaches out to his children — let me be so f—— clear: i have not heard from that man since my brother killed himself. kody blatantly blew me off at garrisons funeral. he is a liar. he is a joke of a father. that’s all.”

Kody and Janelle Brown’s son Garrison Brown died by suicide in March 2024.

“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown,” Kody and Janelle both posted on Instagram on March 5, 2024. “He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.”

A rep for Kody did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

While chatting with PEOPLE ahead of the release of her book Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Finding Freedom, Christine Brown candidly opened up about her hopes for the future of her children’s relationship with their dad. Christine, who’s a mom of six, says that she thinks that “things are going to be better” between her children and Kody.

“That’s kind of an ongoing story for that. But I do believe that Kody is a good person, and I think that things are going to be better,” she said. “I hope things are going to be better.”

“Things take time,” she added. “There’s a lot of things that we say about each other that we hear, and it’s just the nature of it. So we’ve got some things to work through, I’m sure.”

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Although he’s been enjoying his life separated from his former wives Janelle, Meri and Christine, Kody previously shared on an episode of Sister Wives that he’s open to reconciling with his estranged kids.

“But my children will always be my children and the door will always be open to them,” he said at the time. “They’ve got to come through that door. I’m going to be holding a hand out for that, but I’m going to be holding this hand that’s next to me, and I won’t let go of that hand.”

“I will not cut off Robyn to have a relationship with my children,” added Kody.

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