Whitney Leavitt is leaving ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ after Season 5 wraps

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Whitney Leavitt is leaving “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

Reality star Whitney Leavitt announced she was leaving “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” in a surprising way during her last performance in the Broadway show “Chicago” on Sunday. She’s been playing the role of Roxie Hart since February. A video posted by TMZ shows a fellow cast member handing Leavitt a newspaper during the show. Still in character, she read a headline announcing her departure, which caused the audience to erupt in cheers.

Leavitt announced on Instagram Tuesday that while she’s leaving the show after the upcoming season, she will still be featured in Season 5 of the Hulu series.

Looking back, it’s amazing how things turned out. I was already pursuing acting in theater and film long before ‘Secret Lives’ came along. The show just happened unexpectedly, and I decided to take the opportunity. It wasn’t the career path I originally imagined, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I’ve grown so much, both personally and professionally, thanks to working with these women.

Entertainment & Arts

This timeline details how Hulu’s ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ gained popularity and the investigations into domestic violence involving Taylor Frankie Paul.

Leavitt explained that those involved in “Mormon Wives” have shared incredibly intense experiences together, more so than viewers have witnessed. She emphasized that regardless of what happens in their relationships, that shared history will always remain, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

You know, I’ve stepped away from sharing my life as a mom online before, and it was always fueled by frustration. But this time feels completely different. I’m leaving ‘MomTok’ with a genuine sense of peace and gratitude. It really feels like this part of my life has run its course, and honestly, I think that was always the plan. I’m incredibly thankful for ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ – it’s brought me to where I am today and opened so many doors. But I’m ready to turn the page, and I’m so excited to share what comes next with everyone.

Similar to the character she played on “Chicago,” actress Leavitt has faced negative attention from the tabloids. In an interview with “Oprah Daily,” she admitted she doesn’t entirely see herself as a villain, but she’s accepted the role she portrays on screen. She’s openly discussed being driven and using her work on “Secret Lives” to build a Hollywood career – and this isn’t the first time she’s left the show.

She explained to Gayle King that she took a break after the second season because she wasn’t happy with the show anymore. While they were halfway through filming, the producers contacted her and offered her a deal: if she returned to the show, they would allow her to compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Television

Production on the Hulu reality show was temporarily stopped in mid-March when police in Draper City, Utah, began investigating an incident involving Paul and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.

Last year, Jennie Devoe (known as Leavitt) competed on “Dancing With the Stars” with professional dancer Mark Ballas. While she didn’t win, making it to the semifinals and finishing sixth, her performance of “Cell Block Tango” caught the attention of people involved with the Broadway show of the same name. This ultimately led to her landing a role on Broadway.

Salt Lake City might not have the same fast-paced energy as New York City, but Leavitt still has a lot of exciting things happening as she continues working on “Mormon Wives.”

Filming of the show was temporarily stopped in March due to investigations into domestic violence allegations involving cast members Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen. In April, the district attorney decided not to press charges against Paul, and soon after, the show announced it would begin filming its fifth season again.

Paul left a comment on Leavitt’s Instagram post about leaving, saying he’d miss her and wished her luck in pursuing her goals, expressing excitement for what she does next.

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2026-05-06 04:01