Entertainment TV Meri Brown Shares How She Handles Hate from 'Sister Wives' Fans: 'Throw Love Back' Meri Brown revealed the positive way she tackles negative comments from Sister Wives fans while participating in an Instagram Story Q+A session By Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Dory Jackson is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE's digital TV team. While at the brand, she's had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She has also helped recap popular TV shows like 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' 'Sister Wives' and 'Vanderpump Rules.' The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus on Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 26, 2022 04:12PM EDT Photo: Meri Brown/Instagram Meri Brown prefers to treat her critics with kindness. During an Instagram Story Q+A session on Monday, the Sister Wives star was asked about how she handles the hateful things some viewers send her way. Meri, in turn, gave a positive take on the matter. "Just throw love back at them," said the reality star, 51. "They must be feeling a lot of pain." Meri has starred in Sister Wives since its 2010 premiere. The TLC series follows the daily lives of the Brown family — a polygamous bunch led by patriarch Kody Brown. Sister Wives' Meri Brown Posts Quotes About Choosing 'Growth Over Company,' Being Yourself Meri Brown/Instagram Fans have seen the many ups and downs Kody, 52, has faced in his plural marriages with Meri, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn Brown. Last season, Christine, 50 chose to walk away from her longtime marriage to Kody after 25 years. Meri, on the other hand, had previously entered a rough patch with Kody that led to them forging more of a platonic bond. Meri previously said she hoped the two would reconcile someday. "But I also know that my goal and my purpose and my point is to just be a better person and to just look at the family because there's value to that. There is value to this family that we have created," she said during the season 16 tell-all special, airing earlier this year. As Meri and Kody's dynamic faced challenges, many Sister Wives viewers criticized her for staying in the plural marriage arrangement — despite how poorly he treats her. Some fans have also accused Meri of being just as guilty as Kody in causing division amongst the family. Kody Brown with Robyn, Meri, Christine and Janelle Brown. Christine Brown/Instagram Meri previously shared a strong message for her critics on social media, saying she's only "human." "Hi, my name is Meri. I'm human. Yes, I'm on TV. Yes, I'm still human. I love. I have feelings. I make mistakes. I say I'm sorry. I forgive," she wrote on her Instagram Story in 2020, per In Touch. "I'm allowed my privacy. I'm allowed my privacy. Did I say that already? I'm allowed to grow. I'm allowed to change. I'm human." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Season 17 of Sister Wives premieres on Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET.