Hulu to Premiere “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” Featuring TikTok Influencers and Scandals
A new show that combines the lives of TikTok influencers, a sex scandal, and even a distant cousin of Ben Affleck is set to debut on Hulu. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” follows current and former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) as they navigate a series of controversies, including alcohol consumption, unwed pregnancies, male strip shows, and partner-swapping.
Influencer Taylor Frankie Paul is a significant focus of the series. Credited with starting the “MomTok” movement by gathering fellow Mormon mothers on TikTok, Paul and her associates boast millions of followers who provide glimpses of their lives, leading to lucrative sponsorship deals.
In 2022, Paul ignited a scandal when she announced her divorce, attributing the split to having violated the agreements of her open marriage. She revealed that she and her then-husband had engaged in “soft swinging” with couples from their Utah community, where they exchanged sexual partners.
The plot of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" heavily centers on the fallout from Paul’s public revelation, alongside her subsequent pregnancy with boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, whom she started dating while still married.
“I don’t regret where I am right now,” Paul told CNN regarding her relationship choices. “I am happy to be where I am. But do I wish I had went about things differently? Absolutely.”
“ I would have never opened my relationship and my marriage. I feel like that was a disaster waiting to happen,” she added. “I think announcing it to the world, I wish that hadn’t had to happen as well, but also it got us where we are today.”
The season also spotlights a feud between Paul and cast member Whitney Leavitt. Leavitt appears to be vying for Paul’s position in the MomTok community as both women work to mend their friendships while maintaining their influencer careers.
“I never really felt a competitive nature with Taylor,” Leavitt shared with CNN. “I think it was more so I missed getting together with all of the girls and creating content together. So I just started planning content days and then it turned into something that wasn’t what it was.”
The women’s past and present ties to the LDS faith have generated both controversy and intrigue. Although the Church has not directly addressed the series, a statement on their website the same day the show’s trailer was released appeared to reference it.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like other prominent global faith communities, often finds itself the focus of the attention of the entertainment industry,” the statement read. “Some portrayals are fair and accurate, but others resort to stereotypes or gross misrepresentations that are in poor taste and have real-life consequences for people of faith. While this is not new, a number of recent productions depict lifestyles and practices blatantly inconsistent with the teachings of the Church.”
Cast member Jennifer Affleck, who is a distant cousin of actor Ben Affleck, addressed online criticism regarding their portrayal in the show, stating she is taking it in stride.
“It’s probably good that we’ve gotten a little bit of backlash [early] just so we can prepare us for when the real stuff comes out,” Affleck said.
“There’s eight episodes for people to give more backlash on,” her co-star Mikayla Matthews added. “I think we are going to have to go through it with each episode.”
Jessi Ngatikaura, another cast member, expressed understanding regarding the mixed responses given the conservative teachings of the LDS faith, but described the uproar prior to the series’ release as “wild.”
“We knew the title was going to get controversial opinions, but I really hope once people see it they can give it a second chance and realize it’s so much more than a two-minute trailer and a name,” she said. “I’m super proud of what we did…and I think once they watch it, they’re going to realize it’s a super empowering show about women and our struggles.”
The eight episodes of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” are now available for streaming on Hulu.
