For some The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives couples, going on a reality TV show made their marriage stronger — while others crumbled under the pressure.
When Hulu debuted The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt and husband Conner Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry, Mayci Neeley and husband Jacob Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura and husband Jordan Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul and then-partner Dakota Mortensen and Layla Taylor. (Miranda McWhorter, meanwhile, joined the show in season 2 after her split from Chase McWhorter.)
The decision to film their lives came easy to the Utah content creators a.k.a. MomTok — but the same couldn’t be said for their respective partners. Taylor specifically dealt with the negative side effects of filming her relationship when the season 1 premiere ended with footage from her arrest for domestic violence.
Despite trying to address their issues ahead of their son Ever’s birth, Taylor and Dakota were no longer together by the time season 2 aired in May 2025. The sophomore season continued to test couples, with Demi and Bret getting hit with individual cheating rumors — and then Jessi revealing off screen that she faced challenges in her marriage to Jordan.
Keep scrolling to see where each couple stands now:
Jen and Zac Affleck
The duo started dating in 2018 and got married one year later. After welcoming their first two kids, Jen and Zac joined the cast of Hulu’s reality series about a group of Mormon mom influencers in Utah. The first season highlighted the challenges in Jen and Zac’s marriage, which eventually led to an offscreen separation. They got back together amid her third pregnancy.
“[This experience] forced me to get help when it came to my mental health because I knew that it wasn’t just affecting me — it was affecting this baby that was coming into this life,” Jen exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2025. “So it really was the biggest blessing that could have happened in our marriage. It was really what made a shift in my life and made me realize no matter what happens in our marriage, I want to be the best version of myself.”
Demi and Bret Engemann
The biggest issue Demi and Bret initially faced in the public eye had to do with their 16-year age gap — and Whitney sharing intimate details about their sex life. Season 2 looked a little different with Demi filming several episodes of Vanderpump Villa, which is how Demi met Marciano Brunette. After sharing several conversations, Marciano alluded to developing feelings for Demi that were addressed off screen.
Demi denied she was unfaithful — but then Bret was accused of sleeping with someone else when his wife was out of town. The pair, however, have remained a united front amid the drama.
“He’s been nothing but supportive and nothing but understanding. He has been so sweet and just really sought to understand me and helped me in the best way that he possibly can,” Demi told Us in May 2025. “People are going to think what they’re going to think at the end of the day — you can’t control that. So we’re just focused on what we can control and focused on being communicative with each other, and we’re solid.”
Whitney and Conner Leavitt
Whitney Leavitt and Connor Leavitt with their two children. Courtesy of Whitney Leavitt/Instagram
During the season 1 premiere, Conner and Whitney relocated back to Utah from Hawaii after they previously left once Conner admitted to having a secret Tinder account to solicit NSFW images. Conner and Whitney, who already had two kids, worked on their marriage and later expanded their family for a third time.
“It takes time and it takes a lot of work. I remember being in therapy and my therapist asked me, ‘Before we even dive into this, you need to decide is this something you want to work out or something you don’t want to work out?’” Whitney shared with Us in September 2024. “It was something I really had to sit down [and think] ‘Did I want to rebuild this trust?’ That doesn’t mean that things aren’t still triggering to me. When it is, then I’m going to work it out and just keep moving forward.”
Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry
Mikayla Matthews with her husband, Jace Terry, on set of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ season 2. Disney/Fred Hayes
During season 1, Mikayla offered a glimpse at her and Jace’s family of five. They found out in season 2 that Mikayla is expecting baby No. 4.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is about Utah content creators — but the smash reality show has given screentime to many, many cheating scandals. When Hulu debuted The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt […]
Mayci and Jacob Neeley
The duo, who share daughter Harlow and son Hudson, documented their IVF journey on the show. Mayci and Jacob are currently expecting baby No. 3.
Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura
The second season of Mormon Wives called Jessi’s marriage into question when Marciano claimed they had an affair. Jessi denied the allegations but later admitted she had issues she needed to address with Jordan.
“I will say that reality TV is hard on any relationship, whether it’s a friendship or a marriage,” Jessi revealed on “The Viall Files” podcast in May 2025. “We’ve been through a lot, and now it’s going to be public.”
Jessi was also asked about not wearing a wedding ring, to which she noted that she and Jordan were “working through things,” adding, “We’re trying our best — but things are a little tricky right now. I’m excited to hopefully someday share more about that. But right now it’s just real life and it’s hard.”
Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives started filming one month after the show premiered on Hulu — yet so much changed in the cast’s personal lives already. The reality show premiered in September 2024 and became an overnight success as viewers tuned in to see Taylor Frankie Paul, Whitney Leavitt, Jen Affleck, […]
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen
Season 1 started off with Taylor and Dakota in a good place but very quickly viewers were watching her get arrested for aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief after a heated fight. Taylor pleaded guilty six months later to aggravated assault, while the other four charges were dismissed with prejudice. She reached a plea deal in March 2023.
Taylor and Dakota remained together amid her pregnancy but filming the reality show affected their relationship.
“I feel like I might’ve vented to my mom and been a little harsh — and he’s very sensitive — so I feel like it could be a lot harder for him,” she exclusively told Us in September 2024. “Also it could be triggering, too, to bring up these conversations. Especially, I think I’ve heard the [season] cliffhanger, so that in itself stirs up some stuff. We are doing good today, we’re going through work, so I really hope that not too much comes out.”
Ahead of the season 2 premiere, Dakota and Taylor called it quits and got back together multiple times. They are currently not dating. (Along with Ever, Taylor shares daughter Indy and son Ocean with ex-husband Tate Paul.)
