The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Recap: 5, 6, 7, 8

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The highly anticipated press trip is here, and a group of mom influencers—both current and former—are in Los Angeles attending sponsored events, which feels a bit awkward. Even before addressing serious concerns, it’s disappointing that there’s no downtime to actually enjoy the city. They could have had fun, even just arguing over a restaurant table at Din Tai Fung or having a group moment at the Santa Monica Pier, or simply tried tacos that weren’t from Taco Bell. But it seems influencers aren’t allowed to have any fun unless it’s specifically part of a brand’s promotional plan.

The popular MomTok group recently had a welcome dinner at a quirky restaurant known for its over-the-top, novelty food – think lobster-flavored Pop-Tarts toasted at your table. However, Marciano is deliberately seeking attention by posting a provocative video with a caption implying he was excluded because he knows damaging information about someone’s husband. His influence over the group’s dynamic is becoming a real issue, and the women of MomTok need to come together and address it quickly. If I were their PR advisor, I’d recommend everyone completely cut ties with him – unfollow, ignore, and block him on all social media, including professional platforms like LinkedIn and even Venmo. The idea is that if he stops getting attention for just two days, he’ll essentially disappear and revert to being…well, a Lisa Vanderpump dog, where he belongs.

However, Demi and her friends reacted very differently. Demi publicly called him a “liar seeking fame” and even accused him of predatory behavior. In interviews, Jessi and Layla revealed that Demi repeatedly insisted she wasn’t a victim while they were in Italy. The show then included previously unseen footage from season two, where Demi told Bret she had been playful and allowed Marciano to kiss her cheek during a game of truth or dare.

Back in the hotel suite, Mayci was getting her makeup done when Demi and Whitney arrived and started talking about how Marciano and Jessi were teaming up against her. They claimed this alliance was designed to ruin her reputation over a single kiss during a trip to Italy, which Mayci found absurd. She silently texted Jessi about the conversation while Demi kept pressing the point, suggesting that because of what happened to Mikayla and Mayci, people should believe her. The whole situation felt crazy. Mayci revealed she had experienced abuse, including being choked, hit, and raped, and Mikayla had previously shared details of her own childhood sexual abuse. The author doesn’t want to debate the specifics of Demi’s or Marciano’s actions, but strongly objects to using Mayci and Mikayla’s trauma to support Demi’s claims. Ultimately, Mayci is struggling to reconcile her desire to support women with her feelings about this particular situation, creating a difficult dilemma.

Things got interesting when Jessi, Jen, Layla, Taylor, and Whitney all interviewed with Deena for Dancing With the Stars. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any actual dancing involved! Jessi admitted she’s the least coordinated of the group, and Jen jokingly confessed to Photoshopping herself with the Mirrorball trophy on her vision board. Whitney was particularly energetic and enthusiastic, to the point where Deena suggested she consider moving to Los Angeles. It’s worth noting that Whitney actually studied dance at BYU and seems like a great fit for the demanding and over-the-top nature of a dance competition.

The mothers at the Sofitel hotel are using language you definitely won’t find in religious texts. I’m fascinated by the absurdity of sentences like, “I haven’t seen Demi since getting a HYDROJUG™ and I’m worried my TACO BELL™ Flamin’ Hot® Grilled Cheese Burrito will upset my stomach at the HULU Get Real™ event.” Thankfully, no one visibly suffers any digestive issues on camera, but they do encounter Marciano’s former partner, Hannah. She claims Marciano isn’t a sexual abuser or predator, which may be true. However, history shows that having female supporters doesn’t necessarily prove someone isn’t a predator.

During the Hulu event, Hannah asks Demi to take back her accusation of predatory behavior, but Demi refuses. A highlight of the event is when the “MomTok” influencers meet Khloé Kardashian and Scott Disick, leading to a surprisingly awkward but amusing interaction. Scott constantly sucked on a large lozenge, Khloé seemed strangely detached, and the moms were thrilled, eagerly asking if the celebrities watch their content. This briefly eased the tension, but the underlying issues quickly resurfaced, creating a clear separation among the women, and Demi and Jessi agreed to discuss their problems the next day.

Taylor nervously went to Whitney’s room while she was getting ready, hoping to avoid a disagreement about their agreement for Stagecoach. They’re working with a brand that’s paying for their lodging, and the brand needs Whitney to be there. Taylor asked if Whitney was still planning to go – she wasn’t, and Demi definitely isn’t – and then apologized for the way the group cornered her at Miranda’s. Whitney rightly pointed out that everyone wanted her to justify her choices, which she already did by getting on Dancing with the Stars, and that her online presence is simply a way to make a living. Despite everything, Taylor believes Whitney deep down still wants to be friends, and I think she’s right. We all want connection, and it’s better to just admit it.

Jessi and Demi finally had the conversation they’d been putting off, sitting down at a restaurant to talk. Jessi was anxious because Demi tends to dominate conversations. I was also worried, as there was still a lot of time left in the episode, meaning a lot of dialogue to transcribe – especially with the possibility the conversation might not be fully resolved. Luckily, the conversation turned out to be surprisingly calm. They each shared their perspective. Jessi stated she and Marciano never had sex. Demi clarified that Marciano only kissed her during a game of truth or dare, not with a proper kiss, and also mentioned two unwanted grabs on her rear.

Jessi thinks there might have been some flirting, and Marciano may have misinterpreted things. She’s also puzzled why Demi would keep talking to the person who hurt her, especially since they exchanged flirty messages and Demi even sent photos of her daughter. Demi keeps saying there’s no correct way to deal with situations like this, and honestly, it’s exhausting. I said I wouldn’t dwell on this, and I’m sticking to that. I’m ending the discussion now, as advised by my own ‘MomTok Crisis PR’ instincts. Jessi and I are both finished with it. On a brighter note, we’re going to Stagecoach next, and Whitney is planning to make a surprise appearance – I’m really excited to see what everyone wears! And I truly mean that.

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2025-11-14 03:58