The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: The True Story of the MomTok Sex Scandal That Captivated TikTok

The Secret Lives of Mormon Women takes viewers inside the viral “soft swinging” scandal of 2022.

The Hulu reality series, which premiered on September 6, follows eight popular Mormon #MomTok influencers who rose to fame in 2020 — Taylor Frankie Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Demi Engemann, Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Whitney Leavitt and Layla Taylor — and the fallout from their “mild swing scandal” in 2022, which captured the attention of millions.

The drama began when Taylor, the most famous of the group, announced her divorce on TikTok and revealed that she and her husband, Tate Paul, had been involved in “soft swinging”. In their case, the easy swing was an agreement that allowed them romantic intimacy with people outside of marriage, with restrictions.

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During the process, Taylor maintained that while she crossed the line — because she and Tate agreed they “wouldn’t go all the way” — she and her husband weren’t alone in the light swing. She shocked the internet with her claim as she added that swinging was an integral part of the lifestyle of her Utah-based group of Mormon friends.

So what is the true story that led to this The Secret Lives of Mormon Women becoming a reality show? Here’s everything you need to know about the MormonTok “soft swing scandal” in 2022.

What is “soft rocking?”

Jennifer Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley and Demi Engemann on ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Women.’

Fred Hayes/Disney

While there isn’t an official dictionary definition of “soft rocking” (yet), Taylor described it as an arrangement with her husband that included romantic intimacy with other partners without going “all the way.”

When Taylor announced her divorce and dropped the bombshell, she also claimed that the agreement included other couples in their friend group.

“Everybody messed up like everybody,” Taylor said in her viral TikTok Live. In the trailer for The Secret Lives of Mormon Women, Demi added: “It was like we were changing in front of each other, standing next to each other.”

What is MomTok?

Mormon ‘MomTok’.

Taylor Paul/TikTok

MomTok is about a group of Mormon moms and influencers based in Utah. The crew initially consisted of just four moms — Taylor, Whitney, Mayci and Mikayla — who began filming content together in January 2022 and tagged their videos #MomTok.

The videos include dance trends, beauty routines, comedic “caps” and insight into their lives as Mormon mothers. Over time, the group expanded to include Jennifer, Demi, Jessi and Layla.

Together, the mothers have millions of followers on TikTok. Speaking about her relationship with the other women on the show, Whitney explained in the trailer, “Online, it looks like we’re all BFFs, but we’re not.”

IN The Secret Lives of Mormon Women trailer, Mikayla and Demi also explained that they want their TikTok videos and reality show to tap into the “raw stuff that we go through” and show different aspects of Mormon life.

Who is Taylor Frankie Paul?

Taylor Frankie Paul and her children.

Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram

Taylor Frankie Paul is a Mormon “MomTok” influencer who rose to prominence in 2020, quickly mastering the art of making dance videos popular, as well as sharing her Mormon life in Draper, Utah. When she became famous, Taylor was married to her now ex-husband, Tate. The couple shares two children, Indy and Oceana.

After the scandal, Taylor started dating Dakota. In December 2022, Taylor announced their breakup, stating that she had “finally decided to be single and heal”. However, the couple reconnected later that year and had a son, Ever.

In addition to explaining the details behind the soft swing scandal, The Secret Lives of Mormon Women also dives into Taylor’s legal issues.

She was arrested in February 2023 on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, the Herriman Police Department said. The TikToker pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023, and the other charges were dismissed.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Women the trailer ends with body camera footage of the night of Taylor’s arrest and promises to cover the legal drama that unfolded afterward.

What happened during the “soft swinging” scandal that rocked MomTok 2022?

Tate Paul and Taylor Paul.

Taylor Paul/Instagram

The Mormon MomTok “soft rocking” scandal surfaced in June 2022 when Taylor posted her divorce announcement on TikTok. Not only did she explain that she and her then-husband were ending their marriage, but that the reason for doing so was because she had crossed a line in their soft rocking arrangement.

According to Taylor, their arrangement allowed them to be intimate with other people, but with restrictions. In her confessional statement, Taylor told her millions of followers that although she and her husband had agreed not to “go all the way”, she had “backed out of that agreement”.

The TikToker then revealed that she had fallen in love with one of the husbands she was swinging with. In July 2022, Taylor introduced her new boyfriend, Dakota, as the guy she was “cheating” with. She announced her pregnancy with her and Dakota’s child, Ever, in September 2023, and their son arrived in March 2024.

Were there any others? Secret lives cast members involved in scandal?

Jennifer Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Demi Engemann, Layla Taylor, Taylor Frankie Paul, Whitney Leavitt in ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’.

Fred Hayes/Disney

Beyond Taylor’s relationship, she explained that quiet sway was not uncommon in their group of friends, exposing her mom’s influential colleagues and their families to public curiosity and scrutiny. However, Taylor says “most” of MomTok weren’t involved.

While she began a relationship with one of her “soft swinging” partners, many cast members Secret lives worked to distance themselves from the scandal.

The group includes Jen Affleck, who is married to Ben Affleck’s cousin, Zac, Whitney Leavitt, who was a mother of two at the time of the show’s release and was pregnant with her third, and Jessi Ngatikaura, who calls herself the “grandma of the group.” Divorced and remarried, Jessi has a blended family with three children.

Layla Taylor is the youngest woman in the group and is a single mother of two after a divorce. Another cast member, Mayci Neeley, is a former tennis player at Brigham Young University as well as the founder of a prenatal nutrition company. He also has two children.

Rounding out the group are Mikayla Matthews and Demi Engemann, who are both mothers of three.

How can I watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Women?

The first season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Women debuted on September 6, 2024. The show airs exclusively on Hulu.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education