Villain Garrick Merrifield from Seeking Sister Wife has been raving about his girlfriend Roberta on Instagram, but posts about his first wife Dannielle Merrifield are notably absent. Fans of the show feel that he neglects Dannielle, and they are calling him out for disrespecting her. There are a few possible reasons why Garrick posts about Roberta and not Dannielle, which most likely have nothing to do with their current relationship status.
Garrick has incensed fans since he appeared on Seeking Sister Wife season 3. He notoriously managed to convince his then-wife Dannielle to divorce him so he could marry his Brazilian girlfriend, Roberta, and bring her to the United States. When both of the Merrifields headed to Mexico to see Roberta, Garrick clearly favored his girlfriend over his wife, and Dannielle felt jealous. Most fans sympathized with the first wife. From calling Dannielle his “large wife” to his hypocritical actions on Seeking Sister Wife, Garrick has no shortage of detractors. While Dannielle’s relatability on the show garnered support from fans on social media, Garrick’s unsympathetic portrayal left him with countless critics.
One theory is that Garrick needs to make it appear that he is no longer with Dannielle so the K-1 visa process will be successful. The fiance/fiancee visa immigration process is not meant for plural families, so Garrick and Dannielle probably need to make their divorce seem legitimate. Garrick sends a message when he wipes his ex-wife from his Instagram grid and posts more about his fiancee. He appears to legitimize the relationship, perhaps to show the government that he's devoted to Roberta.
It’s also possible that his decision to omit Dannielle from his Instagram was made due to a request from TLC producers. Since their relationship was so controversial, producers may want to keep audiences in suspense to boost ratings and ensure that Seeking Sister Wife stays on the air. If this is true, perhaps the Merrifield family's drama will continue to play out in Seeking Sister Wife season 4.
It seems like the couple is still together, despite Garrick’s poor treatment of Dannielle on Seeking Sister Wife. Garrick’s decision to avoid posting about Dannielle on Instagram is probably an attempt to convince the government that Roberta’s K-1 visa should be approved, and nothing more than that. As of now, it’s unclear whether TLC will renew Seeking Sister Wife for season 4. However, fans are hoping to see the Merrifields onscreen, so they learn more about their odd relationship dynamic. If they don't appear on Seeking Sister Wife, perhaps this family will cross over to another TLC fan-favorite show, 90 Day Fiancé.