In two online interviews, with a few of the cast members from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” I met with Demi Engemann, Layla Taylor, Mikayla Matthews and Jen Affleck.
“If ‘MomTok’ were to lead a Utah tour group, where would you take your visitors?” was my opening question to Taylor and Engemann.
Taylor jumped in and said, “Swig!”
Engemann laughed adding, “Swig, then Temple Square, Sundance and Park City”
The cast calls themselves, “MomTok,” a group that originally rose to fame from their collaborative content on TikTok, and later shocked the nation with a swinging scandal in 2022. While many may be tuning in tomorrow for Taylor Frankie Paul, the MomTok member who broke the swinging story on TikTok, understand that you’ll be met with the truth about these women and their inner lives.
What a statement to make — that swinging is not even the most interesting thing about this all too familiar group of Mormon ladies.
Cast Response to Church’s Statement
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newsroom released a statement titled, “When Entertainment Media Distorts Faith” alluding to the upcoming premiere of the show.
“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,” the statement read.
When asked about the Church and its members who call MomTok a “gross misrepresentation,” Matthews called the article, “a little bit of a jab,” and defended “MomTok.”
“We don’t claim to be spokespeople for the Church,” she said.
Engemann solidified her standing with the Church.
“I’m a faithful member of the church and I strive to do the best that I can but at the end of the day, whatever criticism comes from that has nothing to do with my belief in God,” she said.
However, Affleck said she sees the show as an opportunity to spread the word of the gospel.
“A lot of good is going to come from this show, just the fact that people are curious about the Church is a win,” Affleck said.
Families Can be Together Forever
Layla Taylor, a recent divorcee, commented on the correlation between the Church and women feeling stuck in marriages.
“They definitely encourage ‘Have babies, stay home, take care of the house, keep the family together.’ Divorce is something that’s not very encouraged in the Church, but I’m an advocate for being happy,” she said.
During episode five of the show, audiences will see Taylor throw a divorce celebration with all of MomTok.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Men’s Egos
In episode six and seven, Affleck and Paul were faced with relationship turmoil, when a MomTok Las Vegas trip, joined by Affleck’s husband, Zac Affleck, and Paul’s boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, turned into the two couples in heated arguments.
Taylor recalled the events that led to Zac and Jen Affleck on the cusp of divorce.
“It’s hard because every relationship has different dynamics, whether that’s having an issue with jealousy, being more protective, we just don’t know what that dynamic is, and I think we did learn it that trip,” Taylor said.
Zac Affleck’s actions on this Vegas trip were met with distaste by MomTok’s members.
“I think some of the things he did say to Jen were extremely inappropriate,” Taylor said about the situation.
The Afflecks were not the only ones facing issues within their relationship. Taylor Frankie Paul and her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, joined them, which came as no surprise to the rest of the group.
Taylor added insight to the frequent couple dramatics between Paul and Mortensen.
“They’ve always had a fiery relationship. I feel like that was nothing out of the blue for us when Dakota reacted that way,” Taylor said.
Sisterhood?
When asked about the support found through her divorce in this group, Taylor referred to the group and said, “These girls have become like sisters to me.”
But not all have not found such warmth within the sisterhood.
The most apparent drama was sparked between Whitney Leavitt and the rest of the group.
In our interview, Matthews recalled a MomTok function where Leavitt turned up after a messy blowout, leading to the group questioning Leavitt’s character.
“It was like a garbage fire, train wreck, like the worst. I talk a lot with my face, most of us do, other than people who have a lot of botox, but my face really said it all,” Matthews said.
#MomTok has proven to be important to these ladies, and they’ve made a whole television series about it, but Engemann cares deeply about the values of MomTok members.
“We don’t need to always be pinned up against each other, being compared there’s beauty in rooting for one another and supporting each other,” Engemann said.
While “Barbie” movie worthy bonds were witnessed throughout the season, such as the one between Taylor and Engemann, frenemies were formed along the way.
Scandals and friendship can all be found in, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” so Utah, grab your Swig drinks and get ready to watch some reality television tomorrow on Hulu.
h.edmonds@dailyutahchronicle.com
The post ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Explores #MomTok and the Realities Behind the Scandals first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.