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Business Insider
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
The 'Mormon Wives' cast is fighting over pay. Here's the drama explained and why Whitney thinks they might not always be paid equally.
" The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" cast broke the fourth wall in season two when arguments about pay spilled onscreen. The reality show, which follows a group of unconventional Mormon-adjacent TikTok influencers known as MomTokers, was one of Hulu's biggest new hits of 2024. The immediate success led to the streamer renewing the show for 20 episodes in October 2024 — more than double the length of season one. In season two, episode six, the cast revealed that negotiations for the second season led to an argument where Demi asked for Jessi to be kicked off the show to boost her and their castmates' pay packets. This surprised fans and the other cast members since Demi and Jessi were close friends up until that moment. Whitney, another cast member, told Business Insider on May 20 that the cast are currently paid equally for starring in the show, but suggested that there could be more conversations "down the line." Here's what to know about the cast's pay and how it led to Jessi and Demi's fallout. Jessi said Demi wanted an 'absurd' amount of money On May 20, Jessi told the "Viall Files" podcast that Demi's attempt to kick her off the show was the "catalyst" for the end of the friendship. In the episode, Jessi said that the argument began during a call with the cast, their managers, and lawyers as they devised a plan to negotiate higher pay for season two before season one aired. Jessi said she joined the call and heard Demi's husband, Bret, tell the cast to quit the show if they didn't get the salary he and his wife wanted. Jessi said she responded by saying she didn't want to quit, which she said angered Bret and Demi. "She basically threw me under the bus because I didn't care to fight for more money, and she wanted an absurd amount of money," Jessi said, without stating how much Bret and Demi wanted. Jessi said after the initial call, Demi called the other cast members to say Jessi should be kicked off the show so they could earn more money. Mikayla, Jessi's costar who appeared on the same "Viall Files" episode, also said that the amount Demi requested was too much, adding that the cast did not know how successful the show would be. Mikayla added that Demi told cast members that Jessi had "no morals, no values." Whitney and Layla told Business Insider that the cast eventually decided to be paid equally for season two. Explaining how the show's cast is paid, Whitney said: "it is equal and I think maybe more seasons down the line, we'll have more conversations about it because I think just naturally more people are being filmed more than others." Demi and Jessi's fallout shows the struggles of mixing business with friendship Demi and Jessi made up before filming season two, but the started to show when Jessi learned that Demi told their costar, Taylor, not to get her hair done at Jessi's hair salon, JZ Styles, and criticized her business. Demi said she was repeating criticism from others and that she didn't do anything wrong. Jessi said the final straw was when Demi kept criticizing her for not supporting her in various arguments. "I was just like 'I'm not doing this pattern where I have to beg for your love if I'm not doing exactly what you want,'" Jessi said. Demi told "Viall Files" on May 15 that the fallout was just a "misunderstanding" that could be resolved, but she said Jessi refused to talk with her off-camera. The arguments are a problem for a show built around the idea that the cast are supportive, close friends. Any rifts that might make viewers question how genuine their friendship is could affect brand deals that the MomTokers get and the success of the show. Jessi and Demi have re-followed each other on Instagram, which could mean they are rebuilding their friendship. A representative for Demi and Bret did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.
Cosmopolitan
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
The ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Loves to Gossip and That's OK
Watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2, it's easy to think that all of these identical-looking women's problems would be solved if they just stopped talking about each other behind their backs, but you'd be wrong. If anything, they should be talking about each other more. And not just because it makes for good TV. In my personal—non-mormon—experience, talking about friends behind their backs is key to maintaining healthy relationships. It's not about only being positive, it's about making sure no one finds out when you're so nice. Tell that to a member of MomTok, however, and it would be like suggesting they commit treason. 'Talking behind each other's backs is kind of the opposite of what MomTok is supposed to stand for,' Layla Taylor, one of the youngest members of the cast, says in a season 2, episode 8, 'The Book of Betrayal.' This is her reasoning for giving Taylor Frankie Paul, the most famous and messiest of the group, access to her private group chat with fellow MomTokers Demi Engemann, who was conspiring to kick Taylor out of MomTok. It's an unnecessary move, one that can only end in disaster, but Layla does it because MomTok is allegedly about 'women supporting women.' And in her world, this generic feminist motto means that she needs to betray one friend (Demi, who called Taylor 'dumber than a rock' in the texts) to prove loyalty to another (Taylor). In a surprise to no one, this leads to a showdown between Demi and Taylor in the season 2 finale that ends with Demi walking out on MomTok altogether. What the Mormon wives fail to understand is that everyone needs—and deserves—a trusted confidante. One person you can tell anything to who wont immediately rat you out. For me, it's my twin sister. I was pretty young when I realized that I couldn't stop myself from talking about friends behind their backs. Complaining to my twin about how one of our friends said something kind of dumb or dated a guy I didn't like—or committed some other annoying offense that wasn't worth actually fighting about—kept me from saying something I'd regret to their faces. Instead of hurting someone's feelings or blowing up a friendship, I could just complain quietly. And it go. Think of it as a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy: I won't tell you what bitchy thing I've said about you behind your back, and vice versa. And, we can agree that if we ever have a real problem, we'll tell each other. This way, no petty infraction can ruin years of friendship. I don't blame Taylor for being curious about what her friends were saying about her. But is Demi even really her friend? Throughout the season, the women are trying to decide whether MomTok is a business or a friend group, with most leaning heavily towards the former. So, if MomTok is a business first, friendship group second, then why do the women need to know every little thing anyone says about them? It would be like if your best friend came to your workplace and started repeating back all your office gossip. The moms might say it's in the name of feminism but I, for one, don't buy it. Exposing a friend's private complaint isn't 'women supporting women.' And—I'm sorry—it's also not 'accountability.' The women of MomTok are obsessed with the idea of 'taking accountability for your actions.' Why does Taylor confront Demi for calling her 'dumber than a rock'? Because she wants her to 'take accountability' in front of the group, God, and all of us watching at home. But this isn't a way of righting a clear case of harm, it's a tool to cause shame and put someone at a disadvantage. Admittedly, this kind of conflict does make for really great television. But if it's a choice between MomTok enduring and Jessi knowing everything Demi has ever said about her hair salon, I would choose MomTok every time. So let this be a lesson to the Mormon Wives: Talk about each other all you want, and, sure, do it in front of the cameras—it's literally your job!—but don't betray each other's confidence and don't take it personally. Otherwise, MomTok really won't survive.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why is MomTok fame Kenna Gibbons in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2?
As more members join MomTok , more questions about the ladies' backgrounds emerge. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2 introduced newbie, Miranda McWhorter , leaving viewers wondering where the rest of the content-generating group is today. Makenna "Kenna" Gibbons is one of the most often asked-about former MomTokers. After having a very close relationship with Taylor Frankie Paul , the two had a falling out over the " soft-swinging scandal ." Following Taylor's statement that "everybody was hooking up with everybody," Kenna recounted her own experience. Here's what we know about Kenna Gibbons and where she stands on MomTok today. Kenna Gibbons, a former MomToker, was formerly married to Brayden Rowley . Brayden was one of the soft-swinging couples who "went too far" with Taylor, resulting in an affair that terminated their marriage. Before the controversy, the MomToker participated in numerous videos alongside Taylor and Miranda McWhorter. When Taylor originally revealed the soft-swinging controversy online, Kenna and Brayden elected to remain silent. Miranda and her then-husband Chase McWhorter also did until recently, when Miranda joined the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to share her story. Kenna returned to social media in late November 2024 to share updates on her life after her divorce. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Not long after, she spoke out about what caused her marriage to fail. Kenna discussed two occurrences of soft-swinging in a series of recordings about the scandal that have since been destroyed. The first occurred during a cabin trip the three couples shared, during which Kenna stated, "We did switch partners and had soft-swinging happen." Kenna claimed she was uneasy about the chemistry between her then-husband Brayden and Taylor, and despite reassurances, detected it again when the second event occurred weeks later. "I remember looking at him and saying, 'If this is what you want, we can divorce now because I won't participate any longer,'" she said to the event. Kenna intended to work through her marriage, believing that the affair was exclusively physical. However, she said that the two continued to meet behind their respective husbands' backs. "A physical affair... it's easier to work through than the emotional," she said. She continued: "To want to leave and disrupt your son's life like that, I'm done." "I share these things in the hopes that others can learn from my mistakes," she stated in the captions to her films. "While I am not proud of my decisions back then, I have learnt and grown so much from these experiences, it's hard to wish anything different." That same day, Taylor answered some of the allegations, claiming that Kenna "never asked to stop" the soft-swinging and that "she was one of the instigators and [sent] HER husband to get me." Taylor provided documentation to back up her version of the tale, including a video of her kissing Kenna, a photo of Taylor and her ex-husband, and copies of Kenna's texts. Despite Miranda's appearance in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2 , Kenna does not appear in the current season. However, the "to be continued" cliffhanger at the end of the season has left fans with more questions than answers, and it is possible that Kenna will emerge again in the future. Notably, her post on the incident does not show in the upcoming events. Taylor and Miranda have been open about attempting to repair their prior friendship despite their falling out.
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Zac Affleck from 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' says being related to Ben Affleck was a 'family joke'
"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Jen Affleck said her husband is related to Ben Affleck. In season two, Zac Affleck denied this claim and said it was a family joke. Here's what to know about the couple, including how they met. Warning: spoilers ahead for "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season two. Jen and Zac Affleck of " The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" caused a stir in the show's first season when they claimed to be related to the Ben Affleck. Zac sets the record straight in the second season of the show, which premiered on Hulu on Thursday. The first season gave an insight into the dramatic and unconventional lives of a group of eight Mormon TikToker moms living in Utah — known as Mormon MomTokers. The first episode was the most-watched unscripted premiere on Hulu in 2024, surpassing "The Kardashians," The Wrap reported. Jen is one of the MomTokers, and the Ben Affleck drama isn't the only controversy involving the couple. Here's what to know about Jen and Zac Affleck. Zac probably isn't related to Ben Affleck Last September, before season one premiered, Jen told People that Ben Affleck was the cousin of Zac's father, and said Zac's dad had met him. Then, in season one, episode two, Jen Affleck says Ben is Zac's second cousin. However, Business Insider's Katie Notopoulos was unable to find a common ancestor between Ben and Zac dating back to 1800, using public records and those available on In the second episode of season two, Zac says it was a "family joke" after Jen mentions Ben while discussing what to wear to a Halloween party. This makes Jen mad, and she says he made her feel "crazy" for believing the joke. Zac and Jen met when she was 18, and they got married a year later. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jen Affleck (@jenniferlaffleck) Jen said she met Zac on a dating app called Mutual in 2018 when she was 18 and he was 21. The pair got engaged six months later and married in the summer of 2019. Per Jen's Instagram page, Jen and Zac had their first child, Nora Affleck, in November 2021, and their second child, Lucas Lowell Affleck, in August 2023. Jen is the breadwinner of the family. Fans criticized Jen and Zac after he threatened to divorce her in season one after she and the other influencers go to a Chippendales male stripper show. The pair have since made amends and work on rebuilding their relationship in season two. At the time " The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season one was being filmed, Zac had graduated from Brigham Young University and planned to attend medical school to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were both surgeons. Jen said there was a big wealth gap between her and Zac's families, which sometimes made her feel judged. In the pilot episode, Jen said she was the family's provider, and used money from her social media career to support them while Zac attended medical school. In September 2024, Jen told Vulture that she initially wanted to start a videography business, but she became an influencer after a video about her pregnancy journey went viral. In the season one finale, Zac pushed for them to leave Salt Lake City and move closer to where he planned to attend medical school. Jen and Zac are expecting their third child. People reported in February that Jen was pregnant with the couple's third child. "I was a few days late, and while it was a surprise, we both had a feeling there was another baby waiting for us. We were very excited, there were a lot of emotions after a very crazy year," Jen said. Jen said she and her husband are waiting to find out their child's sex, but hope the baby is a girl. "I've dreamed about this little girl for a while now, and I truly believe she's the one I'm carrying," she told People. Fans were surprised the couple were having a baby after they almost broke up during season one. In an episode on "The Viall Files" podcast in September 2024, Jen addressed her fight with Zac on the show, saying she and Zac had gone to therapy "non-stop" after filming ended. "There was like a few moments where I was like, I don't know if I want to be in this relationship anymore," Jen said. She said she stayed with Zac because she believed he was changing. "I'm not walking away right now because I do love him, and there is a side that people haven't seen, and I truly believe he's an amazing person," Jen said. "Maybe he didn't take accountability on the show, but he definitely did after." Jen's parents met at Brigham Young University in Utah. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jen Affleck (@jenniferlaffleck) In an episode of the " Weekly Trash" podcast in August 2024, Jen said her mother, Maria, was converted to Mormonism by missionaries in her home country of Ecuardor. Maria met Jen's father, Rick, while they were both attending Brigham Young University in Utah. Jen said she grew up with two biological siblings, two adopted siblings, and multiple foster kids in the Bay area of Northern California. Her family moved to Utah when she was 14, but Jen said she struggled to fit in because she came from a low-income family. "I feel like we went from being like this normal family to like a broken family when we moved to Utah because it was just so much to navigate, and it was so hard for all of us," Jen said. "I moved here, and I was like, 'where do I belong?'" Jen auditioned to be part of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' before joining Mormon MomTok. In the "Weekly Trash" podcast episode, Jen said she wasn't affiliated with Mormon MomTok before the show started filming. She became a MomToker after auditioning for and being cast in the show. Jen said the show helped her and Zac address problems in their marriage before he started medical school. Jen moved back to Utah after leaving for Arizona. In the season one finale of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," Jessi said Jen messaged her to say that she was leaving the MomTok group. Jen also shared on TikTok in July that her husband had been accepted to medical school, and her family would be moving closer to it. In the "Weekly Trash" podcast, Jen said she was moving to Arizona, but hoped to be part of a second season of the show. Jen is part of the group again in the first episode of season two, and says to the camera that she and Zac separated in the months between filming the two seasons. Jen says she left Arizona to move into an Airbnb in Utah to rejoin Mormon MomTok. Later in the episode, Zac comes to the house to see if they can move forward with their relationship. He tells Jen that he is leaving medical school for a year to focus on their relationship and support her career. Jen says Zac can stay and they can take another shot at their relationship, but that they should keep the Arizona house until she is satisfied with his growth. Katie Notopoulos' report, which found that Zac Affleck and Ben Affleck are not related.
