Inside Mormon Swiping Scandal: New Docuseries Explore 'MomTok Influencer Drama

Two years ago, an embarrassing sexual misconduct scandal rocked an influential online subculture of Mormon moms known as MomTok on TikTok for lifestyle and parenting content. The community, comprised by Mormon influencers in Utah who created it, experienced widespread backlash as its reputation suffered greatly as it attempted to remain relevant on TikTok. Taylor Frankie Paul, one of its creators and stars, announced she and her husband would be getting divorced — disclosing in the process that they had an open relationship and that Paul had violated its terms by engaging in “soft swinging”, with several couples from her friend group engaging in similar practices. Following its public announcement, speculation raged as to which other MomTok influencers might have been implicated. A Hulu docuseries follows eight such influencers through all the subsequent turmoil and uncertainty. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” released Friday night on Netflix and available through Amazon Prime Video, takes viewers deep inside Paul and her fellow MomTokers’ struggle to save friendships and repair reputations during an unexpected scandal involving some MomTokers shunning Paul and some initially shunned her by creating division. However, after speaking to NBC News the eight women featured said this tragedy brought them all closer despite initial tension that caused some to reject Paul outright. MomTok currently is made up of women who, for better or for worse, decided to stand by Taylor in all times and circumstances – going through tough times together but emerging stronger for it all.” “That is truly testament of female friendship,” noted Jessi Ngatikaura, 32 – mother of three and owner of a hair salon who posts videos detailing both personal life vlogs as well as transformation videos via TikTok. Jessi Ngatikaura, Jennifer Affleck, Mayci Neeley, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mikayla Matthews and Layla Taylor join Demi Engemann for another episode of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Fred Hayes/DisneyWhen Paul first unveiled her swinging arrangement to millions of followers in 2022, she revealed to them that she and then-husband Tate Paul had agreed that intimate relations among members of their swinger group could occur as long as both members remained present and that nothing went too far in terms of intimacy between partners. “So long as it stayed within sight and the two of us knew about it simultaneously, everything was fine,” Paul noted during a live stream. “Once something moves past both of us without anyone seeing or knowing about it anymore then that was when things changed–which happened with me. “Paul admitted her infidelity by admitting her new flame Dakota Mortensen as “the one with whom [she had an affair].” Two months after this announcement was made public she introduced Dakota as her cheating partner – although at this point Dakota Mortensen hadn’t yet come onboard as such a partner! Paul never named any potential lovers; nevertheless, Mormon MomTokers began making assumptions that many others had also been involved with her romantic life, even if most weren’t. Her reputation took another hit last year after being arrested during an altercation between herself and Mortensen. Paul was charged with assault and domestic violence against her daughter while also suffering depression; later she pled guilty to aggravated assault charges. At that point in time she described herself as going 90 miles an hour; at no point could she think straight. NBC News quoted Paul’s account: he felt overwhelmed; depression further compounded matters as they handled these events poorly or not at all. At that point in my life I was just struggling to survive and may have made decisions I am no longer proud to make.” Her actions caused division within MomTok community. Paul now boasts more than four million TikTok followers and posted candid updates detailing her struggles with divorce, coparenting and mental health. After sharing these posts publicly for some time now, Ngatikaura told The Root that being an influencer within Mormon society could open them up to criticism; so she remains uncertain how her show will be received when released publicly. However, she and the other stars hope the series can also help viewers better relate to them. “We’re very pleased to show viewers that it isn’t all about a sensationalist title; rather it reflects real lives with friendships and struggles,” Ngatikaura stated. “Our hope is that women will identify with what we say; that is all that really matters to us.” “Mikayla Matthews, a mother-of-three with over two and a-half million followers on TikTok who faced increased scrutiny due to the scandal surrounding MomTokers, decided that participating in online content creation has helped her explore life beyond being a stay-at-home parent, especially after losing friends when she gave birth at 16. Through creating digital media content she found freedom as she explored life beyond being an at-home mother.” Matthews credits MomTok and its community of users as being responsible for her return to youthful joy: “You sort of return to that teenage feeling of just letting loose and having fun while discovering interests and hobbies again.” She attributes all the great friends she’s met through it for this experience. “MotherTok was definitely responsible.” “Whitney Leavitt, an influencer who publishes dance and lifestyle content to her two million-strong following on MomToker, shared similar sentiments.” Becoming an author has allowed her to feel that her identity transcends just “cleaning up poop and spit up all day for the rest of my life,” as she put it. Additionally, the show offers glimpses into both personal and familial drama. Viewers observe Leavitt, now 31 and pregnant with her third child, navigate the aftermath of meeting her future husband via Tinder. She opens up about a controversial dance video she created during an hospitalization for respiratory illness of her infant, whom was admitted for treatment.Layla Taylor is one of three momtokers aged 23.She hopes that through their docuseries they can show more people that Mormon culture can accept diverse lifestyles while at times showing harsh judgment of them. Taylor, a mother-of-two who divorced prior to filming the show’s episode. said, “so many people are at so many different stages in their life and might participate in activities or beliefs you disagree with and don’t identify with. Yet we all travel our own faith journey and relationship journey with God.”