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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Hulu poster
GenreReality television
Starring
  • Jen Affleck
  • Demi Engemann
  • Whitney Leavitt
  • Mikayla Matthews
  • Mayci Neeley
  • Jessi Ngatikaura
  • Taylor Frankie Paul
  • Layla Taylor
ComposerMax Beck
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Jeff Jenkins
  • Russell Jay-Staglik
  • Andrea Metz
  • Brandon Beck
  • Eric Monsky
  • Ross Weintraub
  • Reinout Oerlemans
  • Lisa Filipelli
  • Danielle Pistotnik
  • Georgia Berger
EditorSvein Mikkelsen
Running time39–48 minutes
Production companyJeff Jenkins Productions
Original release
NetworkHulu
ReleaseSeptember 6, 2024 (2024-09-06) –
present (present)

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is an American reality television series created for Hulu. The series follows a group of eight Utah-based TikTok influencers, known as "MomTok," as they navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives.[1] The first season was released in its entirety on September 6, 2024, and became Hulu's most-watched unscripted season premiere of 2024. The following month, the series was picked up for an additional 20 episodes, set to be released in spring 2025.

Overview

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In 2022, Utah influencer Taylor Frankie Paul went viral for revealing that she and her husband had been "soft-swinging" with other Mormon couples.[2][3] The series begins months later as Paul and her group of influencer friends, dubbed "MomTok," deal with the fallout of the scandal.[4] The show soon became a sensation, despite the history of polygamy under United States law.[5]

Cast

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  • Jen Affleck
  • Demi Engemann
  • Whitney Leavitt
  • Mikayla Matthews
  • Mayci Neeley
  • Jessi Ngatikaura
  • Taylor Frankie Paul
  • Layla Taylor

Timeline of cast members

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Main cast members
Cast member Seasons
1 2
Jen Affleck Main
Demi Engemann Main
Whitney Leavitt Main
Mikayla Matthews Main
Mayci Neeley Main
Jessi Ngatikaura Main
Taylor Frankie Paul Main
Layla Taylor Main

Episodes

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No.TitleOriginal release date
1"The First Book of Taylor"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
In the wake of the "soft-swinging" scandal, Taylor has distanced herself from the MomTok group. Whitney, dealing with her own marital scandal, returns to Utah from Hawaii. Taylor is arrested for domestic assault after a drunken fight with her new boyfriend, Dakota.
2"The Book of Belonging"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Almost one year after Taylor's arrest, she is pregnant with Dakota's baby. Whitney, believing her friendship with Taylor is one-sided, does not attend Taylor's baby shower.
3"The Book of Saints & Sinners"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
After Jen's husband's graduation party, a rift forms between the "saints" and "sinners" of the MomTok group. Jen uninvites the "sinners"—Taylor, Demi, Jessi, and Layla—from her baby blessing. Whitney gives Demi a joke gift that is received poorly.
4"The Book of Truth"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
The MomTok group rents a penthouse for Mayci's birthday. Tensions rise after the girls read anonymous questions to each other via a "truth box". Taylor confronts Whitney about missing her baby shower. Demi accuses Whitney of being two-faced.
5"The Book of Broken Vows"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Whitney leaves the group chat, effectively ending her relationship with the MomTok group. She later turns up at Layla's divorce party, but leaves after a confrontation with Jessi. Mayci addresses her issues with Dakota and his treatment of Taylor.
6"The First Book of Sin"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
The MomTok group, minus Whitney, travels to Las Vegas for a girls' trip. Dakota and Jen's husband, Zac, also tag along, much to the dismay of the other girls, who believe them to be controlling partners. Jessi surprises the girls with Chippendales tickets, leading to a major argument between Jen and Zac.
7"The Book of Trust"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Jen is devastated about her fight with Zac and leaves Las Vegas. After days of radio silence, she reassures the girls that things are okay with her and Zac, but the girls are skeptical. Mayci tells Taylor that Dakota might have cheated on her earlier in their relationship.
8"The Book of Rumors"September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Taylor confronts Dakota about the cheating rumor, and Dakota later confronts Mayci about interfering in his relationship. Whitney does not attend Mayci's brand launch party, despite Mayci being her only remaining friend in the MomTok group. Taylor gives birth to her and Dakota's son. Jen leaves MomTok.

Production

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The theme sequence was filmed at the Provo Utah Temple.

Several months after Paul's "soft-swinging" scandal, the group was approached to star in a reality television series.[6] In February 2023, Paul was arrested for domestic assault after an argument with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.[7][8] The incident was featured in the first episode of the series.[9] The series' title sequence was filmed at the Provo Utah Temple.[10]

Production on the second season began in October 2024.[11]

Release

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The series' premiere date was officially announced on July 26, 2024.[12][13] On August 14, 2024, the first trailer and official cast photos were released.[14] The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was released on September 6, 2024, on Hulu in the United States. Internationally, the show was made available to stream on Disney+.[15]

On October 3, 2024, the series was picked up for an additional 20 episodes, set to be released in spring 2025.[16]

Reception

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Viewership

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On September 11, 2024, Hulu announced that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was the streaming service's most-watched unscripted season premiere of 2024.[17][18] It reached No. 7 on the Nielsen streaming ratings for original series during the week of September 2–8, 2024, becoming Hulu's first unscripted series to chart in the rankings.[19][20] TVision, which utilizes its TVision Power Score to evaluate CTV programming performance by factoring in viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps and incorporating four key metrics—viewer attention time, total program time available for the season, program reach, and app reach—calculated that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was the tenth most-streamed show during the week of September 2 to 8, 2024.[21] It later moved to eighth place during from September 9 to September 15, 2024.[22] Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 25 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, calculated that the series was the tenth most-streamed original series during the week of September 15, 2024.[23]

Critical response

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David Oliver of USA Today praised The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for its effective mix of elements from Gossip Girl, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and Mean Girls. They found the series engaging, highlighting its focus on themes like friendship, faith, infidelity, and scandal within a group of Mormon influencers. Oliver noted that the show stands out for its candid portrayal of issues such as sex, divorce, and emotional abuse, presenting a bold and honest depiction of Mormon women confronting societal expectations.[24] Samantha Nungesser of Decider stated that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives lives up to its reputation by keeping viewers fully engaged with its dramatic twists. Nungesser found the focus on Paul's swinging scandal and arrest particularly interesting, especially noting the shocking body-cam footage. They praised the series for effectively blending personal drama, such as marital struggles and trust issues, with insights into Mormon culture. Highlighting intense moments like Jen's marital threats and Whitney's departure from "#MomTok," Nungesser described the show as a must-watch reality series filled with scandal and emotion.[25] Yonni Uribe of SLUG Magazine complimented The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for sparking discussions about Mormonism and personal authenticity, despite initial concerns about its portrayal of the religion. They concluded with enthusiasm for the show's engaging drama and anticipation for future seasons.[26] While Jessica Grose of The New York Times noted that the series was "being sold as regular reality TV dreck", she did not expect the series' deeper theme of religious conflict within the Latter Day Saint community, specifically with women who struggle to balance the traditional values of Mormonism with the modern values of greater society in the 21st century.[5]

Sarah Stiefvater of PureWow described The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a captivating reality series that she binge-watched in a single day. They praised the show for its blend of scandal, personal drama, and distinctive Mormon culture. Stiefvater highlighted the series' authentic portrayal of the complex struggles among the women of "#MomTok," noting its contrast to the more contrived drama of other reality TV series. They appreciated the mix of piety and hypocrisy, particularly in the dynamics between Taylor Frankie Paul and Whitney Leavitt, and valued the genuine moments of female solidarity. Despite the show's quirks and the sometimes questionable decisions of its cast, Stiefvater found it to be "reality TV gold" and eagerly anticipates the next season.[27] Monica Hesse of The Washington Post said that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives highlights the irony of social media influencers who promote traditional homemaking while secretly being the primary earners. Hesse found that, despite its "petty dramas" and "trash buffet" feel, the show effectively exposes the effort these women put into maintaining the illusion of domesticity. They praised the series for revealing the contradictions between the influencers' public personas and private realities, noting that their apparent self-subjugation is intertwined with self-possession in their successful careers.[28] Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast asserted that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives captures viewers with its chaotic mix of reality TV tropes, finding the cast's pursuit of fame both baffling and irresistible. Fallon noted that the show's tone is inconsistent and its storytelling shallow, particularly in how it glosses over major plot points such as the swinger scandal. Despite these shortcomings, Fallon complimented the series for being oddly captivating, drawing him into its web of drama, confusion, and intrigue, and leaving Fallon wanting more despite his initial reservations.[29]

LDS Church response

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On August 16, 2024, ahead of the series' release, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) released the following statement on their website:

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. 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.[30][31]

They also spoke to the fascination that viewers have with the LDS Church, stating:

We understand the fascination some in the media have with the Church, but regret that portrayals often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members or the sacred beliefs that they hold dear.[32]

A Change.org petition urging Hulu to cancel the series was created prior to the series' premiere.[33]

Along with the LDS Church, several leaders within the faith have spoken against the nature of the show and its virality, specifically what it means for the public perception of its followers. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a sex therapist and marriage counselor, stated that the show could "feed the fantasies" of outsiders who believe LDS Church members do not believe in chastity and fidelity.[34]

In an opinion piece for the Deseret News, which is owned by the LDS Church, Sarah Jane Weaver stated, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is not a representation of me or my friends or my daughters or their friends or of the women I have met across the globe. It simply is not. My invitation and plea to any media writing about these women is simple. There are millions of Latter-day Saint women who live their faith differently than these outliers being promoted online. They are smart, educated, funny and content. Find them, talk to them and tell their stories."[35]

Lindsay Arnold, a member of the LDS Church, stated, "I think there's a lot of people out there mad about the show, upset about it. I honestly really don't feel any of those things. I watched. I was entertained."[36]

References

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  1. ^ Walsh, Savannah (September 12, 2024). "How 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Became Tok of the Town". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Roy, Jessica (September 6, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Are About to Go Public". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Waxman, Olivia B. (September 6, 2024). "The Story Behind 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'". Time. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Gularte, Alejandra (September 6, 2024). "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Exposed". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Grose, Jessica (September 7, 2024). "Can 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Change a Conservative Religious Culture?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Seitz, Loree (September 7, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Stars Unpack MomTok Fascination, Swinging Scandal". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Tolentino, Daysia (February 24, 2023). "Mom influencer Taylor Frankie Paul arrested and charged with assault and domestic violence, officials say". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Bittan, Ryan (August 28, 2023). "Utah influencer Taylor Frankie Paul pleads guilty to aggravated assault after incident with boyfriend". KTVX. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Azeem, Safwan (September 17, 2024). "'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Star Fears Watching the Show". Collider. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  10. ^ May, Emily (September 10, 2024). "Church, members, public respond to 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'". The Universe. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  11. ^ Aurthur, Kate (October 3, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Renewed for Season 2 at Hulu — and Production Begins Next Week". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  12. ^ White, Peter (July 29, 2024). "Hulu Lines Up 'The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' Reality Docuseries – Update". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Schneider, Michael (July 29, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Chronicles Swinging Sex Scandal in New Hulu Series". Variety. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 15, 2024). "Hulu's 'The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' Season 1 Cast Photos, Trailer & Episode Release Date Schedule". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Peach, Nikki (September 17, 2024). "The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives: Will There Be A Season Two?". Grazia. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 3, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Renewed For 20 Additional Episodes By Hulu". Deadline. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Seitz, Loree (September 11, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Is Hulu's Most-Watched Unscripted Premiere of 2024, Streamer Says | Exclusive". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Tingley, Anna (September 12, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Stars Taylor and Mayci on Letting Jen Affleck 'Learn the Hard Way' About Her Husband Zac and Whitney's MomTok Status: 'She's Not Really Close With Anyone'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Porter, Rick (October 3, 2024). "Streaming Ratings: 'The Perfect Couple' Opens on Top With Big Premiere Week". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Porter, Rick (October 3, 2024). "'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Renewed at Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  21. ^ "The TVision Power Score - Week of September 2-8, 2024". TVision Insights. September 10, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  22. ^ "The TVision Power Score - Week of September 9-15, 2024". TVision Insights. September 17, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Prange, Stephanie (September 17, 2024). "'Only Murders in the Building' Again Tops Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Originals Chart Through Sept. 15". Media Play News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  24. ^ Oliver, David (September 6, 2024). "These modern day Mormons are getting real about sex. But can they conquer reality TV?". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  25. ^ Nungesser, Samantha (September 6, 2024). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' On Hulu, Where A Salacious Swinging Scandal Threatens To Destroy Mormon #MomTok". Decider. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Uribe, Yonni (September 16, 2024). "Series Review: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Season 1)". SLUG Magazine. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  27. ^ Stiefvater, Sarah (September 9, 2024). "I Hate Binge-Watching but I *Had* to Finish the #1 Show on Hulu in One Sitting". PureWow. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Hesse, Monica (September 12, 2024). "The irony of the professional tradwife". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  29. ^ Fallon, Kevin (September 13, 2024). "'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Is a TV Abomination. Why Am I Obsessed?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  30. ^ Respers France, Lisa (September 6, 2024). "'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' cast react to the 'wild' backlash to the show's trailer and title". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  31. ^ Fletcher Stack, Peggy (August 21, 2024). "Why Hollywood's fascination with LDS sex lives? Church says shows often distort and sensationalize the faith". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  32. ^ Hicks, Jennifer (September 4, 2024). "Hollywood Offers Harmful And Misleading Latter-day Saints Portrayals". Religion Unplugged. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  33. ^ Richael, Emily (September 5, 2024). "Voices: 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' suggests that LDS women are held to different standards". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  34. ^ Vivinetto, Gina (September 25, 2024). "What the Mormon church has said amid 'Secret Lives' season". Today. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 16, 2024). "Opinion: The 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' does not represent me". Deseret News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  36. ^ Bloom, Mike (September 12, 2024). "Lindsay Arnold Reacts to 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'–And Debunks Mormon Myths". Parade. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
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