Two years ago, a sex scandal shook the foundations of a thriving online subculture of Mormon moms.
“MomTok,” an online community shaped by a group of Mormon influencers in Utah, rose to fame on TikTok for its lifestyle and parenting content. Then, one of her main producers, Taylor Frankie Paul, announced that she and her husband were Getting a divorce – reveals in the process that they had an open relationship and that she violated the terms.
Paul referred to the arrangement as “soft swinging” and said many couples in his friend group were doing the same. The revelation sparked widespread speculation that other MomTok influencers were involved.
The new Hulu docuseries follows eight influencers as they explore the resulting chaos and uproar.
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which was released Friday, brings viewers into the fallout as Paul and his fellow momtalkers struggle to save friendships and repair reputations.
In interviews with NBC News, the eight women featured in the series said the scandal eventually brought them closer to Paul, despite the initial drama that caused some to distance themselves from him.
“I think MomTok is now a group of women who, for better or worse, have decided to stand by Taylor. And yes, we went through tough times, but we’re all stronger now because of it. And I think that’s a real testament to female friendship,” said Jessie Ngatikoura, 32, a mother of three who owns a hair salon and posts vlogs of her personal life as well as hair transformation videos on TikTok.
When Paul, now 30, announced her swinging arrangement in 2022, she explained to her millions of followers that she and her then-husband Tate Paul had agreed that she would be intimate with other members of their swinger group as long as both were present. can Neither went “all the way”.
“As long as we were both there and we saw it and we knew it, it was OK,” Paul said during the live stream. “And the second it goes back without each other, then it is [when] You got out of the contract. And I did it.”
In other words, she admitted to cheating.
Two months later, Paul, who shares two children with her ex-husband. introduced Her new boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, as “Guy”. [she] cheated with.” The couple, who are now married, also had a child together earlier this year.
Paul never offered the names of any other swingers, but suddenly, his influential friends and a large community of Mormon momtalkers were making assumptions that they were involved, even though most were not.
It didn’t help Paul’s reputation when she was Arrested last year During the fight with Mortensen. She was charged with assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
“At the time, I was going 90 mph. I wasn’t even thinking straight,” Paul told NBC News. “I was also depressed, so I don’t even know if I was handling it or not. I think I was just surviving back then, and probably made choices I’m not proud of today.”
Her behavior caused a rift in the MomTok community. Throughout that period, Paul, who now has 4.1 million TikTok followers, continued to post about divorce, co-parenting and his struggles. mental health.
Paul said he is in a better place now.
Ngatikaura said being an influencer could invite negative judgment from within the Mormon community — so he’s wary of backlash after the show airs. But she and the other stars hope the series will also help viewers relate to them better.
“We’re excited to show that this show is not just about the catchy title, it’s about our real lives and our friendships and our struggles,” Ngatikaura said. “I know women can relate to that, and that’s all we want.”
Mikayla Matthews, a mother of three with 2.4 million TikTok followers, said the scandal made her and other momtalkers re-examine whether it’s worth participating in the community despite the increased scrutiny.
But Matthews, 24, said she realized that creating online content enabled her to explore life as a young person as a stay-at-home mom, especially after losing friends when she got pregnant at 16.
“You can put yourself back in your teenage days and just let loose and have fun and rediscover those interests and hobbies,” Matthews said. “I owe all my friends I’ve met through MomTok.”
Whitney Levitt, a momtalker who posts dance and lifestyle content to her 2 million followers, echoed similar sentiments. Being a creator has helped her feel that her identity is no longer limited to “popping and spitting all day for the rest of my life.”
However, the show also gives a glimpse into her personal drama. Viewers watch Levitt, now 31 and pregnant with her third child, explore the consequences after catching her husband on Tinder. She also opened up about a controversial dance video she made while in hospital with her infant, who was admitted for a respiratory illness.
Layla Taylor, the youngest in the cast at 23, said she hopes the docuseries will enable momtalkers to show a wider audience that Mormon culture can embrace diverse lifestyles, even though it can also bring harsh judgment.
“A lot of people are in a lot of different stages of life, and maybe they’re participating in things that you personally don’t agree with and don’t resonate with,” said Taylor, a mother of two who previously divorced her husband. Shooting the show. “But we’re all on our own different journeys within our faith, with our relationship with God.”
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