Entertainment
Everything We Know About the Husbands and Partners of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Cast
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NEED TO KNOW
- The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ second season features highs and lows with MomTok’s favorite couples
- Viewers finally learn where some of the rockiest relationships from season 1 stand, including Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen, as well as Jen and Zac Affleck
- The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2 is now available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+
WARNING: The following contains details from The Secret Lies of Mormon Wives season 2!
MomTok is back and spilling all the tea on their love lives!
The Secret Lives of Mormons Wives season 2 debuted Thursday, May 15, picking up with all of the couples we got to know when season 1 was introduced to the world in September 2024.
If there’s one thing to know about the ladies of MomTok, it’s that they are far from shy! Whether it’s dishing about tough times in their marriages, letting fans in on a ketamine therapy session or a good old fashioned ugly-crying moment on a girls’ trip, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mayci Neeley, Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Demi Engemann, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor and newcomer Miranda McWhorter are sharing an unfiltered looks at the highs and lows of finding love in Utah’s Mormon circles.
Here’s everything we know about the men behind MomTok and where these relationships stand.
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Araya Doheny/Getty
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen
taylorfrankiepaul/TikTok
Season 1 featured Taylor Frankie Paul trying to recover from the “soft swinging” scandal that led to her divorce from Tate Paul. In the aftermath, she connected with Dakota Mortensen, introducing him to fans as her boyfriend in July 2022. The early days of the relationship are filled with tension, including an altercation that led to Taylor being charged with aggravated assault in 2023, a miscarriage and subsequent pregnancy.
Fans were left on a cliffhanger when the hot-and-cold couple was confronted with information that could change everything when someone tipped Taylor’s fellow MomToker, Mayci, off to the fact that Dakota had been unfaithful.
Season 2 presents the couple still reeling from the aftermath of that situation. The relationship between the two is best described as on-again, off-again, with Taylor’s family and her faith pressuring her to make things work while news of Dakota’s behavior puts her face-to-face with some of her worst fears.
Speaking with PEOPLE in May 2025, Taylor shared an update on where she and Dakota stand, revealing, “I feel like right now we are individually working on ourselves and trying to heal, for not only ourselves, but for our son. So that’s been the main focus the last few months, last half of a year.”
She continued, “But to me, I don’t know, I never say never, but right now it’s just individually trying to heal and work on things we needed to work on.”
Jen and Zac Affleck
jenniferlaffleck/Instagram
Jen and Zac Affeck‘s marriage was in a tough spot at the end of season 1, with the two split on their views of the future. Jen also felt disrespected as a result of Zac’s attitude toward her growing fame and her involvement in MomTok.
Jen previously told PEOPLE that “it was tricky for me and my husband at first because he was the provider for the first couple of years.”
“It wasn’t like he was just making little money — he made great money and he also comes from a very wealthy, traditional family,” she continued. “So I think it was very normal for him to be the provider and for me to be at home and be a stay-at-home wife and mother.”
The couple was due to move to New York for a new chapter as Zac started medical school, but fate had other plans. As the MomToker has since confirmed, Zac changed his medical school plans to Arizona and deferred his admission after the two decided to separate to work on their marriage.
Season 2 picks up with the couple trying to work through their differences, from Zac’s feelings about MomTok to the Chippendales performance that called attention to an unhealthy dynamic in their relationship both claim they want to change.
The two try traditional therapy, ketamine therapy and long talks trying to figure out where things took a turn. Amid trying to work through those pressures, they learn that they’re expecting their third child.
In May 2025, Jen told PEOPLE, “We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Right now I’m focusing on my mental health, my marriage and becoming the best version of myself that I can be.”
Demi and Brett Engemann
Demi Engemann/Instagram
Demi and Bret Engemann’s flirty banter and nearly 17-year age gap was on display during the show’s first season, but season 2 finds their union under attack.
Demi and Bret started dating in 2020 before marrying in March 2021. The couple has a blended family with children from different marriages: Bret has two sons, Rome and Cole, with ex Angie Harrington (of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City fame) and Demi has one daughter, Maude, with ex Blake Corbin.
Season 2 finds the couple becoming the talk of the town after a cast trip to Vanderpump Villa leaves Demi facing accusations of infidelity.
In May 2025, Demi told PEOPLE she found herself “very disappointed to see how I was portrayed” in the new season’s trailer.
“It’s a trailer and it’s meant to grab people’s attention, so I understand to a degree. But it is wild to see a lot of the girls jumping on that to try to create a story that I had an affair and cheated on my husband, or that I was unfaithful or that more went down in Villa than I’m revealing,” she told PEOPLE.
Amid the discussion and speculation online, Bret shared posts on social media indicating he fully trusts and believes his wife and has her back regardless of what reality TV throws at them.
“I have a good relationship with my husband. We communicate well. I know the truth. I have my people that are in my corner that believe me and rock with me, and that’s more than most people can say,” she says.
Mayci and Jacob Neeley
Mayci Neeley/Instagram
Mayci and Jacob Neely have been married since 2018 and are riding a high in season 2 as they learn they’re expecting her third baby after a difficult IVF journey.
Both Mayci and Jacob are alumni of Brigham Young University and were friends before they became romantically involved. Jacob has stepped up in helping raising Mayci’s son Hudson, whose father Arik tragically died in a car accident before his birth in 2015.
Mayci and Jacob’s news that Hudson and their daughter, Harlow, will welcome a younger sibling comes with a lot of emotions for the couple, who keeps their IVF journey close to the vest.
“I started my IVF journey originally in 2022, 2023. I made my embryos at the first half, then I was like, ‘I’m not mentally ready to get pregnant,’ ” she recalls.
“I feel like the hormones and everything really affects your mental health. And so I was like, ‘I’m just going to let that simmer down and then I’ll get pregnant.’ Then the show happened and all that stuff, and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s not time yet,’ ” she continues.
“Eventually I knew there was no time that was going to be a good time, and we have two embryos sitting in the freezer… So we just decided to go for it and you can kind of see that journey on the show a little bit.”
She acknowledges it was “definitely tough” going through the process while filming. “It was also a good distraction though,” she admits.
“It was almost helpful in a way because I couldn’t think about it a ton and I just had to go and film and do stuff. But it was challenging, hiding it from the girls. I just didn’t want the extra stress. I also feel like I was pretty mellow because of it because I was like, ‘I have to keep my peace.’ The most important thing doing IVF is being stress-free and just relaxed for it to have the best outcome. So that was the approach I was trying to take most of the first half of the season, at least.”
Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry
Mikayla Matthews/instagram
Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry’s story is different than many of the other couples on The Secret Life of Mormon Wives.
The two welcomed their first child together when Mikayla was 17 years old, tying the knot when son Beckham was six months old. Since then, the couple have welcomed two more children together, Tommie, 3, and Haven, 5.
Season 2 has the couple discovering they’re expecting their fourth child, which Mikayla said was “definitely a surprise” since she didn’t think she was able to get pregnant due to “health stuff” she’d been facing.
This season also features a raw moment for Mikayla, who opens up about sexual abuse she endured as a child. Acknowledging that not dealing with those feelings sooner has made it harder for her to open up to others, including her husband. Mikayla says Jace has been “the most amazing support” as she’s navigated this journey.
Whitney and Conner Levitt
Whitney Leavitt/Instagram
Whitney and Conner Leavitt are no strangers to talking about their marriage. After Whitney came clean about what was really going on when the two fled Utah amid the soft-swinging scandal, all eyes turned to the dynamic between the two, who have been married since 2016.
After publicly grappling with Conner’s porn addiction and the fallout of their marriage, the two come into season 2 in a different place, celebrating the birth of their third baby, son Billy Gene. They also share son Liam, 2, and daughter Sedona, 4.
While things are headed in a positive direction for the pair, they are dealing with rumors that they are in a “lavender marriage,” with countless jokes speculating that at least one of them may be hiding their sexuality.
“I have family, I have Conner, and we know what’s real,” Whitney told PEOPLE in May 2025.
“And so, I can go to sleep at night knowing that I’m with the love of my life, my best friend, and he knows me and I know him, and what else really matters? These people don’t really know who we are.”
Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura
Jessi Ngatikaura/Instagram
Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura got married in 2020. The couple loves making content together and regularly gives glimpses of their family of five.
Jessi recently told PEOPLE she’s excited for fans to get to see more of DadTok.
“I actually feel like the boys film together more. They went fishing and did DadTok and they had scenes together. So I think you’ll get to see that dynamic too,” she shares.
Jordan teams up with Bret to re-enact the controversial Chippendale’s dance that caused tension between Jen and Zac. While the friends joke with Zac that it’s “exposure therapy,” he doesn’t seem as amused. When Demi and Jessi stick up for the guys, it causes more tension between all six of them.
That’s far from the end of the drama for the couple, when the season ends with a bombshell accusation that could rock their marriage, as well as MomTok as a whole.
Layla Taylor
Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty
Layla Taylor enters season 2 enjoying herself as a single MomToker with the world as her oyster. The content creator was previously married to Clayton Wessel and they have two sons together, Oliver and Max.
While season 1 saw Layla easing into single life, she recently told PEOPLE she’s excited for season 2, where she can ” show that aspect of dating as a single mom, especially in Utah.”
This season sees Layla admit to a brief time where she was talking to castmate Miranda McWhorter’s ex, Chase, as well as making the most of her single status while partying in Italy with her castmates at Vanderpump Villa.
Later in the season, we are introduced to Layla’s current boyfriend, Cameron Jolley. The two lovebirds tackle some big conversations as he’s introduced to viewers and the group, from the possibility of giving Layla her first first ever orgasm with a partner to what their future could look like and where faith falls into it.
In a tense moment where Cam confronts Layla about making him feel insecure, she admits that she still has healing to do from her marriage. The two exchange “I love you”s and share their determination to keep moving forward with their relationship.
In another recent conversation with PEOPLE, Layla talked about her dating life, acknowledging that it’s “a lot more challenging” dating as a single mom.
“Because I’m not just dating for myself. I am dating to potentially find somebody that would be a stepfather to my children, so it’s super important to find the perfect guy,” she explained, telling PEOPLE she’s been “very picky, as I should be.”
She also said it’s important that she has a partner who is “okay with having a coparenting dynamic be at the forefront.”
“I’m still prioritizing my ex, not prioritizing him, but making sure that he’s still involved in decision.”
Miranda McWhorter
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty
Miranda McWhorter is opening up her world to MomTok and more for the first time. Before entering the realm of reality TV, Miranda was married to Chase McWhorter. The two tied the knot in 2017 after a year of dating.
In August 2024, Miranda revealed that the marriage had ended. While the two were caught up in the “soft-swinging” scandal with Taylor, Miranda has been adamant that other problems in the marriage led to the split.
Now that the dust has settled, Miranda enters MomTok as a single woman trying to find her footing with her faith and her future.
“I’m single, but I don’t know that I would say I’m dating. I’m just kind of trying to have life experiences, and just really soak up the time with it just being me and my babies. Obviously, I’m open to the journey, whatever happens, but I’m not currently really looking to date,” she tells PEOPLE.
“I think still healing from the divorce, obviously. There’s a lot that comes up when you’re in a long-term relationship, and I think that I’ve realized that there’s still a lot left that I need to address with things regarding that, and so I’m kind of just doing that and enjoying time with my littles.”
Season 2 sees the newly-single mom quietly debut boyfriend Jake Baum at their Friendsgiving gathering. Though he doesn’t partake in the action along with the DadTok guys just yet, he does make a second appearance with Miranda as they enjoy Demi’s Christmas party.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ new season is now available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
Entertainment
‘Hunger Games’ actor arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, intent to kill

“Hunger Games” star Ethan Jamieson was arrested for allegedly assaulting three men with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
The actor, who portrayed the District 4 male tribute in the 2012 movie, was taken into custody after allegedly attacking the men with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in Raleigh, North Carolina, TMZ reported Tuesday.
The alleged victim’s names weren’t revealed and were instead listed as E.F., J.M., and K.W.
According to Jamieson’s arrest report, he was previously arrested for allegedly “resisting a public officer” while in Raleigh in March 2025, per Us Weekly.
He was sentenced for the offense on March 26, according to People.
Jamieson, 27, got his start in the limelight when he scored a guest role in “One Tree Hill” in 2009.
He then starred in the 2010 movie “The Rusty Bucket Kids: Lincoln, Journey to 16” as Ethan.
Jamieson’s last role was in a 2013 episode of “Justified” as Milo Truth.
The actor previously gushed over filming “The Hunger Games” alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.
“I knew that the books were popular, but I didn’t know that the movie was going to be so big,” he told Lancaster Online when the movie was released in 2012.
However, Jamieson admitted that he didn’t want to be a full-time actor and wanted to be a “normal person.”
That same month, he recalled working on the Gary Ross-directed set, telling Clevver TV, “There are a lot of good things [about production], but pulling pranks on each other was pretty fun.”
Entertainment
Katy Perry under investigation by Australian cops after Ruby Rose’s sexual assault allegation

Katy Perry is being investigated by Australian officials over Ruby Rose’s bombshell sexual assault allegation.
“Melbourne Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives are investigating a historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010,” Acting Sergeant Paul Hogan of Victoria Police said in a statement Tuesday.
“Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s Central Business District.”
Earlier that same day, Rose wrote via Threads that she had “finalized all reports” about Perry, 41, allegedly “pull[ing] her underwear to the side and rubb[ing] her disgusting vagina on [the actress’] face” at the Spice Market nightclub nearly 20 years ago.
“This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved,” the 40-year-old noted. “It’s going to look like I am ignoring everything from supportive messages, to other people’s experiences, but I’m not.”
The “Orange Is the New Black” alum added, “This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief.”
Rose explained that she plans to “start the healing process” and “move forward.”
Perry’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
After Rose went viral for accusing the pop star of sexual assault over the weekend, Perry’s rep dubbed the allegations “categorically false” and “reckless lies.”
On Monday, the songwriter’s spokesperson said, “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”
Perry shared a powerful message via Instagram Stories the following day, sharing her 2013 song “Grace of God.”
The lyrics, notably, center around the ability “to rise above” during hard times — and feature a line about how “the truth will set you free.”
Rose claimed on Sunday to have “photos” and “multiple” witnesses to back up her accusation.
The “Batwoman” star, who said she “threw up” on Perry after the alleged incident, added, “I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it.”
“Later [Perry] agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret,” she continued.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
Entertainment
Dave Portnoy claims Dianna Russini’s resignation letter makes ‘zero sense’

Dave Portnoy says Dianna Russini’s resignation from the Athletic makes “zero sense” after the sports journalist’s letter announcing her exit was publicized.
“If we’re just being honest this explanation really makes zero sense. I don’t think anybody should lose their job over alleged canoodling but this statement makes it seem like there was definitely canoodling happening,” the Barstool Sports founder wrote via X Tuesday.
“An innocent canoodler would prob welcome a thorough investigation to prove their innocence and exonerate themselves right? This screams guilty canoodler to me.”
Russini’s resignation letter, addressed to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and sent Tuesday afternoon, comes days after Page Six published photos of her at a luxury hotel with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
Portnoy first weighed in on the bombshell snaps on Monday, speculating that “something beyond a friendship was happening” between Russini and Vrabel — who are both married to other people.
“They’re both married with kids. So, in that respect, very sad story,” Portnoy, 49, said during his “Wake Up Barstool” sports talk show, claiming that it is nothing but a “personal issue” for the NFL coach.
For Russini, Portnoy admitted it got “dicey” because “you cannot cross the line with your sources.”
He still argued that neither party should lose their jobs over the scandal.
“So maybe she crossed a work line, which will cause her to be terminated. Now she’s not dealing with nuclear codes. She’s not dealing with politicians. It’s football,” he explained.
Russini had been at the Athletic since 2023 and had the title of Senior NFL Insider.
In her resignation letter, the journalist said her decision to resign is because “commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” and she wants to stop more damage surrounding the situation.
After her bombshell statement, Ginsberg confirmed Russini’s resignation in a memo to the Athletic staff, noting that “additional information emerged” and “new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”
Last week, Page Six exclusively obtained photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging at the Ambiente in Sedona on March 28.
An eyewitness us that the pair had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant around 10:30 a.m. on March 28 before spending a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub.
After the photos surfaced, the Athletic, which the New York Times obtained in 2022, sidelined Russini and launched an investigation into the matter.
Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, addressed the photos in statements to Page Six.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response,” Vrabel told us.
Russini also told us, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
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