It was one of the biggest TikTok scandals in recent memory: In 2022, Taylor Frankie Paul—an influencer who found fame sharing videos of her life as a Mormon mum—announced she was getting divorced.
While divorce is generally frowned upon in the Mormon church, the split in itself wasn’t what caused a ruckus. Rather, it was the fact that, in her divorce announcement, Taylor revealed she and her now-ex hubby had been engaging in “soft swinging” in their married friend group.
“The whole group was intimate with each other,” Taylor alleged in a TikTok livestream, per Vanity Fair. “It wasn’t like I was going around hooking up with my friend’s husband. It was, like, we were at a party, I got belligerent, and we went and messed around by ourselves rather than the whole group.”
Now, two years on, the scandal is being revisited in a documentary series. From Hulu, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will star Taylor, as well as seven other Mormon influencers who were embroiled in the scandal. While no other women were named by Taylor, and only one has ever come out to speak on the allegations (denying them), the internet being the internet naturally jumped to conclusions.
The series will unpack the scandal, as well as how its fallout impacted the respective women and where they are today.
Scroll on to meet #MomTok, aka the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
the secret lives of mormon wives cast
Taylor Frankie Paul
Taylor Frankie Paul is the influencer who kicked off the whole Mormon swinging scandal.
In the livestream announcing her divorce from ex-husband Tate Paul,Taylor said the pair had “an agreement” that they wouldn’t “go all the way” with other people while practicing “soft swinging.” However, Taylor admitted she “did step out of that agreement,” adding it was “a one-time thing.” According to Taylor, she and the unnamed partner then realised they, “had feelings for each other,” which lead to her divorce from Tate.
Two months later, she introduced her new boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen in a TikTok video as the guy she “cheated with.”
The 30-year-old shares two children with Tate and welcomed her third baby, her first with Dakota, earlier this year.
It’s been a big few years for Taylor. Following the swinging scandal, in February 2023, the Utah influencer was arrested charges of assault, commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child and criminal mischief. Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August that year, and the remaining charges were dropped.
Jennifer Affleck
Yes, Jen Affleck is related to Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck (by marriage). The influencer is married to Ben’s cousin, Zac Affleck.
Of the show, she says, “It feels like we got ten years of marriage counselling in this one season of filming,” adding that she is excited to open up about her relationship.
Jen and Zac share two children.
Whitney Leavitt
Whitney Leavitt is a 31-year-old influencer. She shares two kids with her husband, Connor and is currently pregnant with her third.
According to her TikTok, where she boasts 2 million followers, “she twerks and bakes.” Seems like a gal who knows balance!
Of her appearance in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives she says, “When you see a lot of reality TV, they aren’t really friends before filming the show. [This group has] built a business together, and we get to show the world how we did that.”
Aside from Taylor, Whitney is the only member of #MomTok to have addressed the swinging allegations, denying that she participated.
Mayci Neeley
Former D1 tennis player Mayci Neely is married to Jacob Neely, with whom she shares two kids. She’s a boss, too, having founded natal gummy company called Baby Mama.
Mayci also runs an Instagram account called Sinner Sunday Confessional, which is billed “Your safe space to anonymously confess all your sins.” It’s not entirely clear what it is, but we’ll roll with it.
Layla Taylor
At 23, Layla Taylor is the baby of the #MomTok friendship group. The TikToker is recently divorced and shares videos of her life as a single mum of two boys.
Mikayla Matthews
24-year-old Mikayla Matthews is a mum of three, who says she is keen to use the show to highlight “a different side of the [Mormon] religion.”
Mikayla has previously opened up about her experience being a teen mum, and often shares videos of her currently life with her kids and husband, Jace.
Jessi Ngatikaura
Jessi Ngatikaura is a bit of a beauty powerhouse. In addition to being a mum, Jessie is a hairdresser, TikToker and the owner of hair school and extension company, JZ Styles.
The 32-year-old has divorced and remarried, and has a blended family with three children and her husband, Jordan.
Demi Engemann
Like Jessi, Demi has divorced and remarried, and is also part of a blended family. She and her husband Bret are raising three kids together.
Where to Watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives In Australia
The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives will be released on Friday, September 6 in the United States. It will be available to stream via Hulu—which is connected to Disney+ in Australia. Whether or not it will actually be available to watch in Australia is yet to be confirmed.
Watch here for updates.
