The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is Hulu's latest reality television series. The first season was released on Hulu on September 6, 2024. The eight-episode series follows a group of eight Mormon influencers who are part of "MomTok."
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is not scripted. Its a series that showcases the lives of eight women from Utah, each varying in their level of commitment to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Some still follow the church, while others, raised on its strict values, are not as devoted anymore.
These eight Utah-based Mormon influencers from "MomTok" are known for creating viral and trending content about their religion and modern-day motherhood. They often offer parenting advice and promote brand deals and sponsorships.
The eight Mormon influencers/wives featured in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives are Jen Affleck, Taylor Frankie Paul, Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, Layla Taylor, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, and Mayci Neeley.
The plot of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives centers on the influencers dealing with the aftermath of a viral swinging controversy. The controversy stemmed from one influencer's claim of participating in "soft swinging" with other Mormon couples.
The influencers navigate changing group dynamics while balancing their personal and professional lives. With the position of leader in the group open following the controversy, viewers will find out whether it’s Team Taylor or Team Whitney.
Is The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives scripted?
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is not scripted. While producers may have asked questions to steer conversations in a particular direction for compelling and entertaining content, the influencers did not memorize pre-written dialogues.
The events that unfold in the series are unscripted. While the drama and reactions happen in real time, there has been some behind-the-scenes influence.
Producer influence is not surprising, as the first season was filmed over two years, from 2022 to early 2024. Viewers should also keep in mind that if someone wasn’t scheduled to be filmed but anticipated drama, they could request the cameras to capture it.
How does the Mormon church feel about The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?
Many viewers have taken to the internet to express concerns about how inaccurately the show portrays the lives of Mormon wives. Criticism has mainly come from the Mormon culture in Utah, where more than half of the population associates with the religion.
The Church has also criticized the show. In a recent news release, it stated:
"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."
In response to the criticism that the show is receiving, one of the eight influencers, Jessi Ngatikaura stated,
"Seeing the backlash from our community has been rough, but I also think that if they give it a chance they would realize it's just an empowering show about women in this religion and culture but navigating it differently because we're all imperfect humans."
Is everyone on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives a practicing Mormon?
While the show is titled The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, not all the wives are active members of the Church. Jessi Ngatikaura and Mikayla Matthews are not currently active in the church. Jessi recently told the Salt Lake Tribune:
"I still have my records in the church. I think that counts for something, even if I'm not currently active."
After the premiere, Mikayla Matthews also shared her thoughts about her involvement with the Church, stating:
"I haven't been active in the church for a little bit, but I know some of the girls got more backlash from their families, who are still very active."
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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to watch on Hulu. For the latest updates and stories about your favorite shows and soaps, stay tuned to SoapCentral.
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