'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Tell all: Here's Everything We Know

Attention #MomTok- Tell a friend to tell a friend, they're baaaaaack!

---

Everyone's new favorite reality TV personalities are coming back together sooner

than anticipated. Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars are reuniting in the show's first-ever reunion episode. The episode will be hosted by TV personality Nick Viall on July 1st. Fans have been begging for a reunion since Season 1, and the show's executives were listening, just not in the way we thought they were. On June 5th, an announcement was made stating the stars of #MomTok and #DadTok will be reuniting "to uncover secrets and scandals, never-before-seen footage, and a surprise announcement." This left fans with a rollercoaster of feelings.

On the one hand, fans were thrilled at the idea of a reunion after the explosive final episode of Season 2. On the other hand, that episode wasn't the end of Season 2. The show was renewed for 20 episodes- 10 being released on May 15, 2025, and the other 10 allegedly being released at a later date. So, fans question, why release the reunion now instead of at the official end of Season 2? One can only assume this has to do with the "surprise announcement" coming with this reunion episode.

Another odd note to add to this is the fact that the reunion has been pre-filmed. That's right, ladies and gents, this is not the live Andy Cohen reunions we're used to. This is a reunion that was pre-filmed before Season 2 was even released. Some fans are disappointed at this, as all of the never-ending drama that has been storming the comment sections of countless creators by this group of ladies won't be discussed this round. We're chalking it up to it being the show's first time in the hot seat and not being able to predict the mountain of tea that would be spilled.

With the reunion coming up, the girls were invited onto a podcast to talk all things Season 2 with Nick Viall, who's also hosting the special. Buckle up, saints and sinners, we're about to catch you up on The Viall Files interviews and what to expect for this reunion!

Ma'am, I need a recap

If you haven't heard about Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where have you been, loca? The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is a new reality show where we follow a group of Mormon women influencers through their everyday lives while taking on the trials and tribulations that come with sisterhood, religion, and fame. The show stars Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jen Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Whitney Leavitt, and Miranda McWhorter. Released in 2024, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is now in its second season and a national phenomenon!

To give you a little refresher on Season 2, we started off at the Gracie Lou Cowboy Pillows influencer event, where the girls met up to discuss the future of MomTok. This is when we meet OG MomTok member Miranda McWhorter. Miranda decided against being in Season 1 of SLOMW due to her involvement in the swinging scandal with Taylor, but now she's ready to spill her side of the story!

We then pivot into the murky, garbage water that is- you guessed it - Dakota. Taylor navigates her relationship with him following the revelation that he cheated on her (in her own bed, might we add). Her family decided they wanted to be involved by telling Taylor to essentially get over it and that it was her fault in the first place. Taylor eventually ends up having what seems like a somewhat healthy co-parenting relationship with Dakota, but we'll see if that can last.

Throughout the show, we're also taking a quick, very brief glimpse into some of the personal struggles the women are facing. Jessi gets a solid five-minute segment on her thyroid surgery, Mayci gets a good fifteen-minute segment on her IVF struggles, and Mikayla has a good bit to discuss going to therapy for her mental health struggles and past trauma. For a show that is built on the lives of these ladies, you'd think they'd have more airtime to discuss these topics.

Moving on to the bullying of this season, in which there was a large amount of it. Jen ended up going MIA in the middle of Season 2 due to mental health struggles following the enormous amount of bullying from Demi and (by default) Jessi, as well as finding out she's pregnant with her third child. Talk about stressful, y'all.

Demi and Jessi were two peas in a pod this season, attempting to wrap Layla and more into their schemes. They focused on calling out Jen for being a liar and butting their way into her marriage for the first few episodes, until Jen decided to take a leave of absence. Once they found they couldn't kick her while she was down anymore, they turned their attention to another friend going through the dark trenches of struggles, Taylor.

Slowly, toward the end of these 10 episodes, Jessi and Layla started realizing how cruel and unfair Demi was and decided to hop off the bandwagon. It was revealed that Demi had not only tried to get Jessi kicked off the show, but she had warned people off from going to JZ Styles, Jessi's salon. The final episode exploded with a dramatic flair when Taylor and Demi went head to head, Taylor confronting Demi for attempting to vote her out of the group, and Demi saying if Taylor stays, then she [Demi] goes. It ended on a cliffhanger with Demi walking out.

What is The Viall Files?

Our Andy Cohen step in this reunion is none other than the villain himself, Nick Viall. Being no stranger to drama, Nick Viall is a TV personality from The Bachlorette and podcast host of the hit show, The Viall Files, where he hosts alongside his wife, Natalie Joy.

The Viall Files podcast is known to discuss everything when it comes to dating, pop

culture, and reality TV, so it's a no-brainer when almost all of MomTok has been interviewed by him, most more than once. He seems to be a fan favorite among the crew and seems to have been chosen to host this special occasion for his abilities in navigating drama and conducting interviews. We are wishing him the best of luck with moderating these ladies, though. They could give the Real Housewives a run for their money.

Following the release of Season 2 and leading up to the reunion, Nick and Natalie have been releasing episode after episode of interviews with MomTok. They discuss what happened on the show, what's been happening since the show's release, and what we can expect for the future. To catch you up on the in-depth tea of MomTok's lives before this special event, we listened to all that The Viall Files had to offer to give you all the exclusives, and spoiler alert- it's juicy.

Miranda's Interview

Released on May 1st, The Viall Files decided to start with the least spoken out, unofficial member of MomTok, Miss Miranda McWhorter. Miranda didn't seem to have much to say regarding everything. Like in the show, she didn't seem to want to take one side over the other, but she did make it clear that she does lean one way (Which way that is? One can only assume). She states that she and Taylor are civil now, able to be friends, but unsure if they could ever be BFFs to the level they were at before the swinging scandal.

When asked about Demi and Jessi's fallout, Miranda said, "I think when you see patterns in someone and when you see people do things to their friends, it naturally kind've makes you go, hmm, I don't love that." She goes on to explain how she's skeptical of Demi's behavior and how she treats her so-called friends, clarifying that pointing fingers and pushing a narrative is never a good look for anyone. Between conversations she's had with both Demi and Jessi, Miranda says Jessi has been very forthcoming, and their fallout made sense only after hearing what Jessi had to say. Later, she states that being the 'fan-fav' of season 1 may have gotten to Demi's head a bit, and she may have assumed she'd receive some sort of immunity.

"I think when you see patterns in someone and when you see people do things to their friends, it naturally kind've makes you go, hmm, I don't love that"

The podcast touches on just how fragile some of the relationships between MomTok and DadTok are. When asked who has the weakest relationship at the moment, Miranda doesn't hesitate to state, "Oh, definitely Jessi and Jordan... Granted, there are issues with all of them that were already being had, right?" Drama has been brewing among the group regarding Jessi's relationship with Marciano while at Vanderpump Villa. It's entirely possible that the cheating rumors may be worming their way into Jessi and Jordan's relationship, but I think everyone, including the cast, is confused when it comes to these rumors, as there have also been versions where Demi is the one cheating with Marciano. Miranda touches on the situation briefly, calmly stating, "When I had first heard of anything happening at all, because obviously I wasn't there... I know that Jen had voiced some opinions on it, here and there, but I didn't know any details."

The day this podcast was being filmed, information was coming out in real time regarding Demi and Marciano, where Demi claimed he was a sexual predator and had assaulted her. When asked about Miranda's thoughts, Miranda, as composed as ever, said, "My first impression of what I was being told was very, you know, empathetic, 'I'm so sorry, that's awful.' Obviously, there's been a lot of information now, and I think what is confusing is that if you take that [information], set that aside, right? Say that that did happen, there are also other things that had happened that were not assault, and I think that's what makes it very confusing." As the episode winds down to a close, she continues saying that the Marciano situation is a very complicated and confusing one, which is why she's deciding to be team Switzerland for the time being. She's focusing on single mom life and spending time with her kids.

Demi & Bret's Interview

When an episode featuring Demi and Bret dropped on May 15th, the world stood still and held its breath. The day of Season 2's drop, and we're interviewing the villain of the season? We got her alone to speak her..."truth" on all things season 2? The popcorn was being made 0.02 seconds into Nick welcoming us to the show. Believe it or not, not much was said. The couple seemed to be focused on themselves and spent the majority of the episode discussing each other. We were able to pull teeth on a few topics, though, and get that snappy Demi out here.

"I feel like cameras come out, and it's a performance...Jen was very performative"

Demi came into the interview with attitude. She was ready to speak her mind and give everyone the what-for. Nick decided to really grab Demi by her weak spot and ask her if there was anyone she thought performed for the cameras. Immediately, Demi rolled her eyes and said, "Yes! Yes! Absolutely. I don't know if you want me to call out specifics, but Jen. Yes, definitely with Jen. I feel like cameras come out, and it's a performance...Jen was very performative, everything was kind've an act." She goes on to discuss how Jen is more meek and timid in real life, but the second the cameras are on, she's this bold Jen, with Demi responding to this version of her by saying, "Don't get ahead of yourself."

We get a glimpse into where Demi and Jessi's friendship lies later when Demi lets everyone know that Jessi has her blocked on everything. She lets us know that only after speaking with Nick did she realize that much of the miscommunication between her and Jessi, or her and the rest of the girls, came from how she was saying some of the things she was saying. She says, "So much of this was either misunderstanding or things being twisted, or like, the ego getting in the way of like, actually genuinely having a conversation."

Demi also speaks briefly on the Marciano situation, explaining that she had confided in the group about the assault that took place and asked no one to tell a soul, only to find out Jessi had spilled the situation on a podcast two weeks later. She was hurt by this, and when asked if there was a future for a friendship between the two, Demi said, "If the conversation were to naturally happen, sure. Like, now I know, like, how to take full accountability on that." It all felt like a lot of gossip in this episode, with the only real emotions coming from Demi and Bret discussing the beauty of ketamine therapy and how it can open your eyes to a whole new world.

Jessi & Mikayla's Interview

Five days after the release of Season 2, The Viall Files drop Jessi and Mikayla's interview. These girls go in on the drama. Nick opens by asking Mikayla about the trolling videos she's been posting on TikTok regarding Whitney. With a smile, Nick hesitantly states, "I'm usually not in the business of agreeing with Whitney. I honestly respect how much you hate her, but like, the trolling TikToks. You really, this season, did not back down, being like, 'I can do whatever the [_] I want,' which obviously you can, but you can appreciate why that maybe looks like you're going past the point of standing up for yourself."

Mikayla responds by saying, "There wasn't the dynamic of, 'Whitney is so innocent

and everyone's ganging up on her.' It was like she was feeding into this role of like, 'Oh, make me your villain. It was all editing, I didn't know I was like this.' And so it was just, it almost made it harder to be quiet because it was like, oh, I don't remember it going that way. But yet she was still feeding into this and doing like the same patterns." Mikayla then explains that her tipping point was when Whitney decided she wanted to throw Mayci under the bus on her socials, even though Mayci was there for Whitney through thick and thin.

Another fallout the episode touches base on is between Demi and Jessi. Jessi explains that their fallout began over the contract situation, which occurred before Season 1 even aired. She says Demi wanted to cut her out of the show because Jessi didn't care to fight for more money. Jessi explains the contract ordeal in a bit more detail than we've been able to get before. She reveals that the full cast was on a call to discuss contracts with lawyers and managers, but Jessi had joined the call late. When she joined, the first thing she heard was Bret, Demi's husband, saying, "If we don't get this amount, everyone's walking." And Jessi essentially said Excuse me? No sir. Not me. Mikayla goes on to clarify that before the call, the group (minus Jessi) had agreed to act as if they would walk away if they didn't get a certain amount. Jessi then recounts the hurt she felt to hear Demi call her spineless over this situation.

"We can make up this whole thing that like I have an affair with Dakota"

Another twist in the whirlwind of drama is revealed when Jessi and Mikayla bring up what Demi had originally wanted to do for the Season 1 finale. Mikayla says, "Demi was like, wanting to have a huge finale for Season 1, and so she was wanting to make up- she's like, 'We can make up this whole thing that like I have an affair with Dakota and like this.' And so everyone was like, 'Oh, that's a weird thing to say.'" Nick then takes the conversation in a slightly different direction, bringing up the Marciano situation. Mikayla explains that it's hard for her because, directly after the villa, Demi was telling her she wasn't a victim, and she was playing into it, being flirty. They do clarify that it is a serious situation, one they don't want to speculate in. It's just an odd, complicated situation.

Layla & Mayci's Interview

Mayci and Layla use their time on The Viall Files to not only discuss their personal lives that weren't shown in the show, but also dip their toes in the drama pool. Mayci starts the interview off with some advice for those who may or are going through IVF treatments by explaining her story, something the show cut in Season 2. She explains, "I went into it really blind... I think for me, the process was- I don't wanna scare anyone - but

it was harder than I thought it was going to be going into it. I thought the worst part was like, oh the shots and the needles, because I don't like shots and needles. But for me, I think it's the more mental aspect, because the hormones are like, so intense."

The group follows this conversation with a turn by asking Layla about her ex-boyfriend from Season 2, Cameron. She explains that the relationship turned sour once she realized their wants didn't align, with him wanting her out of the show, and her saying screw that. Layla explains how Cameron was very 'love bombie' at the beginning of their relationship, overloading her with affection and

gifts, something she admits that she needed at that time.

"'If this is how she treats her, how would she treat me?'"

When asked how the relationship between Demi and Layla soured, Layla explains that what Demi had done to Jessi rubbed her the wrong way, making her wonder, 'If this is how she treats her, how would she treat me?' Then, she began to see the pattern repeat itself with Taylor. Layla says that she'd be open to having a more productive conversation with Demi one day. Still, unfortunately, each one they're having right now seems to show that Demi has not changed and continues to be very negative.

Jen & Zac's Interview

The shock heard around the world- or at least that's what it felt like seeing Jen's happy smile as she sat down with Zac for their interview on May 28th. Jen is very pregnant during this interview, but she does seem very happy. Throughout the episode, you get the sense that both she and Zac are working on not only their marriage, but themselves. And the results? They're showing babes! A little note to add, it was evident throughout the episode that when Jen would share her perceptions or opinions on something, it felt like Zac would shut her down and take over the conversation. They later address this, saying they're working on it in couples therapy right now, but it occurred frequently enough that it should be mentioned.

To start the interview off with the obvious, Nick asks Jen how her mental health and

the pregnancy are treating her. Jen explains that the third trimester of pregnancy is not being kind to her, but she's doing a lot better mentally. "It's not every day your relationship is being exposed to the world," Jen says as she discusses the struggles she's had since being on the show. Zac continues, saying that the show was not kind to them, not showing a lot of the positives in their relationship. He goes on to explain that viewers got a very one-sided look into what their marriage is like. Although they are far from perfect, it was hard working through their issues with the entire world watching. Their leave in the middle of Season 2 seemed to be a blessing in disguise, allowing them to work on their individual problems before coming together and focusing on couples therapy for their marriage.

Later in the episode, Nick confronts Jen on her "people pleasing tendencies" and asks about her 'lies' throughout the second season of the show. Jen attempts to clear up everything by saying, "I do think I have a lot of people pleasing tendencies. I do think that a lot of the dishonesty that maybe you see in Season 2, where I wasn't just straight up right up front, came from me living in fear." Nick eventually cuts Jen off, clarifying that it wasn't apparent that she had been this machine spitting out lies in Season 2; it was more so her being accused left and right. Jen also uses this opportunity to clear up the Chippendales situation that we see occur at Jessi's Halloween party. The majority of Jen's mentions by Demi and Jessi in Season 2 are to discuss how she knew about this lap dance she'd be receiving, but it's evident in their footage of the original discussion as well as Jen's retelling now, that this was not the case. Jen explains, yes, she did know about the Chippendales recreation that would be happening, and she did encourage it, but at no point did they mention her being the center of attention for the show or getting a private dance from the husbands.

"I don't even know how we're still honestly debating the topic"

As far as Jen's opinion on the Marciano situation, she reluctantly says, "I think Demi pushed boundaries in Vanderpump Villa and I called her out for it, and she was very upset in Italy." The couple explained that Demi was constantly on Marciano's lap, kissing him, but none of those clips had made the final edit of the show.

Zac is also quick to jump in and add, "I don't even know how we're still honestly debating the topic," with Nick adding that it is a serious topic in a warning tone, attempting to control the conversation.

What to Expect for the Reunion

With the reunion around the corner, Hulu has been working overtime to release advertisements for the special. Clips have been spreading with viewers inching to the edge of their seats days before its release. What do you mean Jessi is going to discuss the rumors? Jen has receipts, and we finally get to see them? WHY IS WHITNEY WEARING A TIARA??? All this and more will be revealed. Fans are speculating that the special announcement will be when the second half of Season 2 will be airing, but we

guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Overall, it seems the drama is never-ending with this group of BFFs, but it does seem they're able to take a little bit of a breath of fresh air during these podcast episodes. The biggest common theme said throughout all 5 episodes (not counting Dakota's- we are avid Dakota haters here at UT) is that the show is bad at showing the positive moments within the marriages or MomTok itself. They are a group of friends first, but the show is often a poor representation of that. The lack of in-depth topics discussed this season, like Jessi's health scare and Mayci's IVF treatments, was disappointing for the girls to see and for us viewers, too. Hopefully, the production team has plans for these clips or, at the very least, learns that we'd rather learn and connect with these women instead of seeing them episode after episode beat someone down because they thought their husband was related to a celebrity.

Season 2's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion will be dropping on the streaming platform. Hulu on July 1st.

To listen to the Podcast episodes yourself (and we def recommend it!), click the links below to go to The Viall Files Youtube!

Miranda's Interview

Demi and Bret's Interview

Jessi and Mikayla's Interview

Layla and Mayci's Interview

Jen and Zac's Interview