Jessi Ngatikaura Addresses Mormon Wives Pause Over Taylor Frankie Paul

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Jessi Ngatikaura is setting the record straight.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what happened with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives! They actually had to stop filming during season five because of everything with Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. And the worst part? Everyone was saying the other wives were basically giving Taylor the cold shoulder after it all came out. I was so worried about everything, honestly! It was a total mess.

Podcaster Zack Peter suggested on his Instagram account, No Filter With Zack Peter, that the increasing distance between them might be due to jealousy – specifically, that they were envious of Taylor’s recent attention. Taylor was originally chosen to be the next Bachelorette, with her season set to premiere on March 22nd, and Jessi responded to Zack’s speculation.

“It was never,” she commented, “a jealousy thing lol.”

Jessi didn’t share any details about her current relationship with Taylor or the rest of the cast, but a source told TopMob News on March 16th that Taylor is getting along well with everyone from SLOMW right now. The source also clarified that the show’s production pause wasn’t due to any conflicts between cast members.

On March 16th, a representative from the Draper City Police Department told People magazine that they were investigating a possible domestic assault involving Taylor and Dakota Johnson, who share a 23-month-old child named Ever.

The spokesperson stated that both sides have made accusations. They confirmed contact was made with those involved on February 24th and 25th, but couldn’t provide further details because the investigation is still underway.

TopMob News contacted Taylor’s representative for a statement. We also reached out to Dakota, Hulu, and ABC, but they haven’t responded yet.

Taylor, who shares 8-year-old Indy and 5-year-old Ocean with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, was arrested in February 2023 following an incident involving Dakota.

According to court records released by the Salt Lake County District Attorney and reviewed by TopMob News, she faced several charges: one felony count of aggravated assault, two felony counts of domestic violence with a child present resulting in injury, one misdemeanor count of child abuse, and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.

In August 2023, the 31-year-old admitted guilt to aggravated assault, and other charges against them were dropped.

According to a source who spoke with TopMob News, the situation Taylor experienced in February of this year is different from what happened in 2023, as she’s currently in a much different place in her life.

According to a source, Taylor takes responsibility for her actions. Her main priority is shielding her son, Ever, from negative press, especially anything concerning his father, and ensuring he has a positive view of him.

According to a source, her sole focus is her child’s well-being, and all of her actions have been motivated by that concern.

To learn more about the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and their relationships, read on. 

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen began dating while appearing on the show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and had a son, Ever, together in 2024. However, their relationship ended because Dakota was unfaithful.

Taylor shared on the second episode of her Hulu series that things were wonderful with Dakota after their daughter Ever was born – they were living together and Taylor was even thinking about getting engaged. However, she soon discovered he had been dishonest with her the entire time.

Taylor learned from a woman named Jenna that she and Dakota had been sexually involved and had stayed overnight together on multiple occasions.

Taylor, who also shares children Indy and Ocean with her former husband Tate Paul, stated that Dakota claimed Jenna started the affair.

She told the interviewer, “It was definitely him.” He admitted to kissing her on the couch, but then clarified they actually had sex there. They then continued in another room.”

Now that Taylor has ended her relationship with the founder of Basin Tiling, she’s enjoying life and looking forward to finding love again on season 22 of The Bachelorette.

Nonetheless, she and Dakota are committed to developing a successful co-parenting relationship.

In May 2025, Taylor told TopMob News that she and her partner are both working on themselves to improve their individual well-being, as they weren’t able to progress as a couple. She explained they’re currently prioritizing their child and she’s personally focusing on her own healing, with no clear plans for the future.

Whitney Leavitt married Connor Leavitt in 2016, and he’s become her ideal life partner. Together, they have three children—Sedona, Liam, and Billy—and have worked through challenges as they live their lives in the public eye.

For instance, the Dancing With the Stars alum had to shut down rumors about her husband’s sexuality.

She jokingly asked if she needed to resort to extreme measures to prove things were okay, saying, “Like, do I need to put out a sex tape?” On the Off the Vine podcast in October 2024, she assured listeners, “We’re good. Everything’s fine.”

She explained that he had struggled with a pornography addiction, something I wasn’t aware of personally. She mentioned a scene where a friend observed his confusion around sex, suggesting that was evident to those around him.

Despite facing challenges, the reality star shared that she and her husband, Connor, are more solid as a couple than ever before. They proved their commitment by renewing their wedding vows in February 2026, celebrating their tenth anniversary.

Conner shared with Brides that he and his partner got married at a young age. He explained that while their wedding day was special for them as a couple, it also felt like a celebration for their families. They wanted to create a truly personal experience, and they felt this was a fun way to do just that.

Jen and Zac Affleck, who are married and have no relation to Ben Affleck despite what people say, have been facing breakup rumors since 2019, almost since they got married.

A major argument sparked by Jen going to a Chippendales show in Las Vegas was a key storyline in the first season. Despite the fight, the couple – who are parents to Nora, Penelope, and Lucas – reconciled, and the Dancing With the Stars contestant later spoke out to support their relationship.

Jen explained to TopMob News in November 2025 that constantly hearing the same rumors was exhausting. She said she’s learned to accept that people will always talk and share their opinions. What really bothers her, though, is when people don’t recognize the hard work and effort he’s putting in privately.

She and Zac are prioritizing their well-being and trying to ignore outside distractions. It’s still a challenge for him, though.

Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura have faced challenges in their marriage. After Jessi had an emotional affair with Marciano Brunette from Vanderpump Villa, they went through a difficult time. However, things have improved for the couple and their children, Jagger and Jovi.

Jessi shared with TopMob News in November 2025 that she and her partner are working on rebuilding their relationship. She explained that relationships aren’t always easy, and after what they’ve been through, it will take time and effort to get back to a good place – there won’t be an instant fix.

The reality star, who also shares a daughter named Peyton from a previous relationship, revealed that she and her partner are in therapy. She explained that while they experience challenges like any couple, they’re sharing their journey honestly, hoping others will find it relatable and helpful.

I have to admit, I was really surprised when Mayci and Jacob Neeley got together! After losing her boyfriend, Arik Mack, so suddenly in 2015 – and while she was 14 weeks pregnant with their son, Hudson – everyone thought she’d be raising him on her own. She truly braced herself to be a single mom, so seeing her find love again with Jacob was a beautiful surprise.

But it all changed when she met Jacob in 2016 at age 21, whom she would marry two years later.

In her memoir, Told You So, Mayci explained that she was cautious due to past experiences, but she and Jacob connected quickly. They stayed friends for a while, which made her comfortable with him meeting her son, as they weren’t seriously dating yet.

She explained that Jacob was wonderful with him, and that made him even more appealing. Although she was scared of being hurt again, she couldn’t ignore her feelings after four months. He was a kind, funny person who made her feel secure.

Mayci and Jacob went on to welcome daughters Harlow in 2021 and Charli in 2025.

Demi Engemann married Bret Engemann in 2021, following her divorce from Blake Corbin the previous year. Their relationship, featured on a reality show, gained attention when Whitney gave Demi Fruity Pebbles, which led to discussions about their intimacy.

Jessi revealed in a November 2025 Instagram post that her grandfather, Bret, has a surprising and unsettling habit: he drinks her urine as if it were a soft drink, consuming it quickly like water. This explained the strange gift he had given her.

Demi and Bret aren’t upset about their past mistakes – or a certain embarrassing incident! In December, Demi told Entertainment Tonight that she and Bret have accepted everything and are now just focusing on enjoying life together.

Despite some public discussion about their intimate life, the couple is happily adjusting to life as a blended family. Demi has a daughter named Maude from a previous relationship, and Bret has two sons, Rome and Cole, with Angie Harrington, who is known from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

In a heartfelt Instagram post from June 2024, Demi praised her husband, saying she’s never met a more dedicated or loving father. She especially highlighted his devotion to his stepdaughter, Maude, and expressed excitement about their future as parents together. She admires his unwavering commitment to his role as a father, even when facing life’s challenges.

Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry have a long history together. They first met in 2015, when Mikayla was 15, and had their son Beckham two years later. They married in 2018 and have since welcomed three more children: Haven, Tommie, and Lottie.

Mikayla and Jace are enjoying raising their four children, but Mikayla has expressed a desire to have even more kids in the future.

In an interview with People magazine in February 2025, she shared that she’s always pictured having three or four children, though she wouldn’t rule out having six. She’s also looking forward to moving to a new house with a large yard to accommodate her future family.

In the ninth episode of the show’s fourth season, Mikayla revealed that she and Jace were separated and working through difficulties in their physical relationship.

Mikayla’s marriage suffered as she started to deal with the painful memories of sexual abuse she experienced as a teenager, and as her ongoing health problems worsened with increased stress.

Talking about sex or intimacy is really difficult for me,” she told Jace. “It puts me in a state of high alert, like I’m already overwhelmed and stressed. I just don’t have the capacity to deal with it right now.

Layla Taylor and Clayton Wessel, parents of Oliver and Maxwell, got divorced in 2023. Layla then hinted at a new relationship with Mason McWhorter in July 2025.

Despite a slightly tricky situation – Mason is connected to Layla’s coworker Miranda McWhorter through her ex, Chase McWhorter – they were both ready to see if their relationship could work.

Layla shared with Us in November 2025 that she’s not quite ready for marriage right now, but she’s open to building a deep connection with someone first. She expressed happiness with her current relationship with Mason, adding that they’d cross the marriage bridge if it ever came to that.

Unfortunately, the mom of two confirmed that she and Mason had split in February 2026.

Layla explained that she and her partner were simply heading in different directions, and he needed space to grow as an individual. She said she understands and respects his choice, and she wishes him all the best.

Miranda joined the show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in its second season and quickly became central to the widely discussed “soft swinging scandal” involving MomTok. However, despite the issues with Taylor, Miranda has stated that this wasn’t the cause of her 2024 divorce from Chase.

She explained on the Weekly Trash podcast in August 2024 that the reasons for their breakup had been brewing for a long time. While recent events may not have helped, she insisted they weren’t a factor in the decision to split.

Nonetheless, she and Chase have been committed to parenting their kids Brooks and Cohen.

She thoughtfully pointed out that coparenting requires ongoing effort. She added that if their relationship had been flawless, they likely wouldn’t have divorced in the first place.

“The thing with him and I,” she continued, “we’ve always had a pretty good foundation of a friendship prior to even having a romantic relationship. I feel like that’s something that set us up for some level of success when it comes to co-parenting.”

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2026-03-17 15:18