Many fans criticize the Sister Wives cast promoting controversial multilevel marketing schemes because of the predatory behavior of these companies.
Sister Wives fans are skeptical about the cast’s involvement with multilevel marketing (or MLM) businesses. Meri, Christine, and Janelle Brown in particular have had a history of working with what are called pyramid schemes. Much of their financial independence has been linked to their hawking for MLM companies such as LuLaRoe, Plexus, and more recently, Life with Health & Happiness. Despite this success, viewers see many problematic aspects involved with these endeavors and aren’t quiet about it.
Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown has been particularly vocal about how Plexus has helped her lose weight and attributes her finding happiness to using this particular product. She uses her social media to share the effects of using this beverage for health reasons. MLMs often rely on people promoting brands through social media. With a vast online platform, in addition to their fame established by the TLC series, the Sister Wives stars are in an excellent position to be successful as entrepreneurs.
The Lure Of Sister Wives MLMs
according to The Salt Lake Tribune, the Mormon community, particularly mothers, are known for their involvement in MLMs. Direct selling appeals to a particular group of people looking for flexible schedules. In close-knit communities, such as with members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, people have ample opportunities to share these products with others. As many of the Sister Wives cast members joined a polygamous sect of fundamentalist Mormonism, this cultural affinity for MLMs makes sense.
The Sister Wives Cast’s Business Endeavors Are Controversial
The problem that Sister Wives fans see with MLMs is because they are known for preying on people who don’t have extra money or social connections. With every MLM success story, there are people left with boxes of products they cannot sell. Some MLMs, such as LuLaRoe, have even been under legal investigation for their predatory behavior. With such a vast platform, the Sister Wives cast is posed to influence many people into participating in MLM schemes, making their participation even more controversial.
Sister Wives Fans Criticize Cast’s Involvement With MLMs
When Christine’s daughter Gwendlyn Browned discussed how she makes her money, she tried to defend the family’s participation in MLM schemes. However, fans weren’t sympathetic to Gwen’s reasons. Instead, in a Reddit thread started by Solid-Question-3952, Sister Wives viewers challenged the idea that the family’s MLM involvement wasn’t predatory. One fan said,Naturally they are going to be more successful because of the amount of followers they have. The issue is the people who signed up under them aren’t going to be, and they will still make money off the people who signed up under them..” The user also stated that Gwen can’t understand that because of the way she grew up. Fan criticism of MLMs is understandable when taking the Brown family’s fame under consideration.
With so much of their financial independence tied to MLMs, various Sister Wives The stars probably will not break off ties with the controversial organizations anytime soon. However, Gwen’s pushback against the criticism of the Brown family’s involvement with these pyramid schemes suggests an awareness of the fans’ negative reactions. Viewers will have to see if this defense of MLMs plays out in future seasons.
Sources: The Salt Lake Tribune, Solid-Question-3952/Reddit