How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Opens Up the World of #MomTok Influencers After a Swinging Scandal

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience, I must say that “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is an intriguing and captivating exploration of modern womanhood, faith, and the complexities of human relationships. The series deftly navigates the fine line between the wholesome and the scandalous, providing a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the lives of these TikTok mom influencers.

In 2022, Taylor Frankie Paul, a popular mom influencer on TikTok, gained nationwide attention when she disclosed that she and her then-husband Tate were engaging in “soft-swinging” with other Mormon couples in Utah. This revelation led to their lives, as well as those of their friends, making headlines across the country, sparking numerous discussions about who else might have been involved in these relationships.

A fresh reality TV program titled “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premieres on Hulu on September 6. This series follows Paul and a circle of his Mormon TikTok influencer friends, who are all mothers in Utah, as they strive to overcome a recent scandal.

What to know about the Mormon swinging scandal

From 2021 onwards, the group of women, commonly referred to as #MomTok on TikTok, have gained notoriety for performing synchronized dances in a V shape, dressed casually in athletic wear and carrying oversized Stanley Cups.

The clean, family-friendly picture made the discovery of their “soft swinging” behavior all the more startling. Paul used the term “soft swinging” to indicate that couples were not engaging in penetrative sex with each other. This revelation sparked a flurry of discussion on Reddit trying to identify who among the Mormon community was involved. Tate took down her photos from Instagram, and several of Paul’s fellow Mormon #MomTok influencers distanced themselves by denying they were swingers and unfollowing her. In a live stream, Paul announced that she was getting divorced and responded to viewer questions in real time. She has since been open about seeking therapy and rebuilding her life.

Through eight episodes of this Hulu series, it becomes evident that although most of the individuals within the group weren’t swingers, they found themselves needing to refute rumors about their lifestyle. As the story unfolds, it’s apparent that there are lingering trust issues among them, and some friendships will deteriorate as a result.

When TIME inquired from Paul, a TikTok user with over 4.1 million followers, if there were any additional comments regarding the speculations about her involvement in a swinging lifestyle, she appeared cautious due to concerns of revealing those involved. However, she emphasized that she wasn’t alone in taking part in such activities.

Paul stated, “Many accusations were directed towards me, suggesting that I was solely responsible for instigating and taking part, but I’m puzzled as to how I could have done it alone. However, I wasn’t the only one involved. It was a collective action. Each of us made our own choices. After all, we’re all grown-ups here.”

Keeping the faith

Similar to how Mormons embark on missionary journeys at age 18 to spread their beliefs, some mothers have utilized TikTok as a means to educate others about their faith and culture without venturing outside their homes. In this Hulu series, you’ll notice men huddling around a baby for a traditional blessing and prayer before meals, scattered throughout the videos. In between dance challenges on TikTok, these women are seen drinking oversized sodas with an assortment of syrups – essentially the Mormon equivalent of coffee. Some mothers use the platform more as a way to gently satirize their faith instead.

And while they may not be swinging in the Hulu series, the women of “Mom Tok” want to make sure that sex talk is not taboo, urging Mormon women to make their pleasure a priority during sex with their partners. In one scene, Whitney Leavitt lands a $20,000 deal with a vibrator company and is showing off the device to fellow moms. Layla Taylor, 22, reveals to Leavitt that she’s never had an orgasm, even though she was married for three years and has kids. In another episode, the moms participate in a paint ‘n’ sip hosted by a mom having a labiaplasty—painting their versions of the ideal vaginas while sipping mocktails called “the pink pussy” and “labia-licious.”

“Paul points out that it’s often thought all Mormons share identical lifestyles,” he notes, “but the essence of our series lies in demonstrating the multitude of diverse approaches to practicing Mormonism – it spans across a wide range.”

Among many Mormon families, the women often take on traditional homemaker roles. However, some mothers from the #MomTok community buck this trend by serving as primary earners or contributing significantly to their family’s income, thanks to business deals secured through their social media platforms and large followings. In the show, Mayci Neeley, a popular influencer on TikTok with 1.3 million followers, hosts a product launch event for her brand of prenatal vitamin supplements called “Babymama”.

On TikTok, Mormon mothers are categorized as either “Sinners” or “Saints,” with the “Saints” being more devout in their religious practices. A significant conflict unfolds in the reality show Secret Lives during a girls’ trip to Las Vegas for Layla’s birthday. The ladies, in an impromptu move, take a group photo with scantily clad male Chippendales dancers. This action leads to a heated argument between Jen Affleck, a 24-year-old relative of Ben Affleck, and her husband. He is enraged by the photo and challenges her religious convictions. Despite reconciling by the end of the show, other mothers advise Jen that she shouldn’t tolerate such controlling behavior from her partner.

The women behind this production aspire that Mormon audience members will discover characters they can identify with and feel empowered by. As Neeley explains to TIME, “Our hope is that if someone who identifies as Mormon sees themselves in our experiences and thinks ‘I’m not good enough for the church because I drink,’ they might find solace in knowing they are enough, worthy, and possibly inspired. That’s the aim of our show.”

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2024-09-06 18:06