In a February 2023 video that she shared with her Patreon patrons, Gwendlyn Brown reportedly claimed that Kody Brown spanked her when she was a child. “I remember personally being bruised a few times,” she said of how hard her father allegedly struck her (via Starcasm). The allegation was in response to a fan’s question about whether Kody used corporal punishment as a form of discipline, which Gwendlyn said she is against. When Gwendlyn later uploaded the same video to her YouTube channel, she edited out the spanking claim. However, while discussing a “Sister Wives” scene in which Kody screamed at her mom Christine Brown, Gwendlyn said, “We are definitely starting to see the true side of him because he has yelled at me like this before.”
In his interview with John Yates, Paedon Brown spoke about Kody using physical forms of punishment with him. “Yes, he pounded my bum several times,” Paedon recalled. “He flicked me on my mouth several times because I would mouth off.” However, Paedon also stated, “He made sure to be an authority figure in my life, and he was a very, very good father when he was doing it.”
The American Psychological Association has warned parents that physically disciplining children is ineffective and harmful, and it may make kids view violence as an acceptable way to deal with disputes. The APA also says, “[Physical discipline] can lead to emotional, behavioral and academic problems over time.”
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.