Mark your calendars: the new season kicks off on September 10.
WASHINGTON — “There’s so much stuff the public doesn’t know,” disclosed Mormon wife Mayci Neeley in the intriguing first teaser for the upcoming fifth season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” unveiled on Wednesday.
Neeley’s statement echoes the curiosity that has enveloped the public lately, especially considering the recent cancellation of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” This season was to feature Taylor Frankie Paul, leader of the popular MomTok community.
For those unfamiliar, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is a Hulu reality series that dives deep into the lives of MomTok—a dynamic group of young mothers in their 20s and 30s, all influencers hailing from Utah. They share a collective tie to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since its debut in 2024, the show captivated audiences, catapulting its stars to new heights with enticing brand partnerships and opportunities.
For the uninitiated, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is a Hulu reality show following MomTok, a group of 20- and 30-something mom influencers from Utah, each with a connection to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series premiered in 2024 and was a smash hit, leading to lucrative brand deals and other opportunities for the show’s stars.
One of those was the casting of Paul as the Bachelorette, which was set to premiere in March following season four of “Secret Lives.” But the season was canceled when Paul was accused of domestic violence days before it was set to premiere. TMZ also published video from 2023 showing Paul throwing metal chairs at her former partner Dakota Mortensen. One of the chairs hit Paul’s 5-year-old daughter.
Shooting for season five of “Secret Lives” was momentarily paused in the wake of the scandal, leading to a lot of interest about how the show will address it.
The trailer reveals a video call between Paul and on-again, off-again boyfriend and baby daddy Mortensen, in which Mortensen reveals he had Paul’s initials tattooed on his lip.
“It’s giving obsessed,” Paul said.
“I am obsessed,” Mortensen responded in the trailer.
Obsessed or not, the two have had a rocky relationship, which lately includes a custody battle over their toddler son.
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“They’re like Romeo and Juliet in the Tiktok age,” said MomTok’s Jessi Draper in the trailer.
Paul’s isn’t the only unresolved storyline in the series. Speaking of Draper, season four ended with her marriage to Jordan Ngatikaura up in the air, and Draper filed for divorce after the season premiered, according to People. Season five is expected to address that experience, as well as that of fellow MomTokker Mikayla Matthews, whose marriage was also in trouble.
“We might have to have a little drama, which is on brand for MomTok,” Draper said.
The trailer also shows glimpses of the women navigating the fame that has come from the show and social media, like once-villain Whitney Leavitt’s Broadway debut in the musical “Chicago,” and her relationship with Jen Affleck, with whom she competed on “Dancing with the Stars.”
“Four years ago, we were just making TikToks,” Neely said. “It’s just so crazy all the things we’ve been through together.”
As usual, the new season promises fights, betrayals, shocking disclosures and the ever-present question: can MomTok even survive this?
“Feels like there are no friendships left in MomTok,” said one sound bite.
The new season drops on Hulu on Sept. 10. Unlike past seasons, it will only be five episodes long.