What's fascinating about the audience situation when it comes to Janelle is that you have a couple of extreme hater groups with vastly different views on her:
- The ones who use the same fan fiction that many use with KR, claiming that Janelle and K had an affair that began before he married Meri and that she left Adam for K. They also insist she's a terrible mother to the children who adore her.
*The ones who claim that Janelle and K have lied for years about their mutual sexual attraction (which is one of the most consistent parts of this 19 season series) and that he only wanted her for money, despite the fact that he pushed Meri away when she was making the most money.
Both of these groups are wrong. The facts don't align with either. But it is interesting that hater groups respond to her in such contrasting ways.
Anyway, back to the actual topic: the known facts don't align with the fan fiction that Janelle left Adam for K.
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Janelle and Adam married in December 1988.
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They immediately found that they weren't a good fit for each other and separated 6 months after marrying.
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Janelle stayed close with the Barbar family and was introduced to K. This 1989 meeting is used as evidence that she left Adam for K. She describes it multiple times in the show and once in the book as being intense. Despite this, Janelle and K did not get together at that point.
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In 1990, Janelle attended Meri’s wedding with Adam and their divorce was finalized that year.
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From 1990 to partway through 1992, Janelle was dating LDS men while hanging out with Meri and K, and being curious about the AUB faith.
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K repeatedly suggested that he and Janelle pursue a relationship but she rejected him.
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Janelle’s mother, Sheryl, was worried about Janelle spending time with polygamists, so she went with her to the Brown family ranch, met Wynn, fell in love, and they married in 1992.
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Wynn wanted Janelle to marry one of his non-K sons, but by that point, she had decided to convert and then she kind of proposed to K in December 1992.
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K officially proposed to her a couple of weeks later and they married in January 1993.
So, yes, there was definitely mutual interest and attraction. That doesn't equate to an affair or leaving one's husband for another man.