Miranda McWhorter declined the offer for the show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” due to several personal circumstances. At the time when filming began, she was grappling with a spiritual crisis that caused her to depart from the Mormon church and also endured a contentious divorce with her husband, Chase. Additionally, there was the controversial swingers’ scandal that catapulted their co-stars into reality TV fame: Taylor Frankie Paul’s public disclosure about herself and her TikTok-popular friends engaging in extramarital affairs with each other’s partners. McWhorter admitted to being part of this group, but she maintains that her participation was limited to kissing, not sexual relations.
Currently, McWhorter finds herself single once more and eager to resume her lifestyle as seen on MomToking. In the opening episode of season two, she attends an influencer gathering, causing her fellow wives to accuse her of chasing clout and growing too close to Whitney Leavitt, a prominent antagonist from Mormon Wives. The drama continues at Jessi Ngatikaura’s Halloween party, where McWhorter’s ex-spouse gets into a fight with Demi Engemann’s husband, Bret. Despite the tension, McWhorter has managed to rejoin the group, announcing that filming for season three is already in progress, barely a few days before the second season even premieres. There are undoubtedly more Swig visits in store for this particular wife.
Could you share some insights on the inception of MomTok? How did it come to be?
Taylor and I were already friends for five years before the incident occurred. We first connected online. In an attempt to pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a means to distract ourselves from our roles as mothers, we began creating videos together. As fate would have it, we encountered another friend who joined us in our video-making endeavors, and that’s how MomTok came into existence.
Inquire about the essential aspects of the scandalous swinging incident and my personal encounter with it. To put it simply, when Taylor mentioned that everyone was getting intimate with each other on her Live stream, I couldn’t relate because for me, hooking up has always meant sexual involvement. At that point in time, my family had no idea about my spiritual struggles, let alone the fact that I might have been part of a swinging group. The situation was quite intense and made me feel betrayed by Taylor, as she hadn’t shared crucial information with me regarding what Chase supposedly told her. With a misleading narrative circulating, I chose to clarify that I wasn’t involved and kept things at that point. In retrospect, I would handle the situation differently now.
Are there parts of Taylor’s account that you find yourself at odds with?
She might respond, “Our relationship was an open one.” In their unique situation, they found this arrangement acceptable. She is expressing her personal viewpoint regarding her specific relationship. My former partner and I didn’t have a formal discussion about it – perhaps because our involvement wasn’t as deep compared to others.
Were you invited to join the first season of Mormon Wives?
Yes, Taylor and I were approached for a show about a year before that didn’t work out. When they began discussing the pilot for Mormon Wives, they contacted us again, but I hesitated before making a decision. Many people assume I declined because of my relationship with Taylor at the time, which certainly influenced me. We weren’t getting along well, and putting myself in such close proximity to someone who had made my life challenging seemed unwise. When Taylor was arrested and production was halted, I considered whether I might reconsider if she wasn’t involved. However, the outcome would not be known for some time, so I couldn’t base my decision on that. If I had joined season one, my divorce proceedings would have been televised, which could have made for compelling television but would have been emotionally taxing, hence my decision to decline.
Two days following the premiere of season one, they reached out to me and inquired whether I’d changed my mind about something. By then, I was already divorced and a solo parent. A thought crossed my mind: “It seems distinct from before.” And here we stand today.
Did you watch the first season? I did!
What caught you off guard?
I anticipated a deeper exploration of the scandalous affair in the series given its legal implications. However, it seemed they focused less on this aspect than I expected, considering everyone involved. Watching the series, I found myself empathizing greatly with the characters, which surprisingly influenced my decision for season two, as I knew some of them beforehand but didn’t fully understand their struggles until then.
Some females are accusing you of seeking attention by participating in season two. How would you respond?
Firstly, it’s important to clarify that none of us are participating for free. I’ve been through a lot during those couple of years and find the situation amusing. When Taylor and I, along with our other friends, were creating MomTok videos, everyone reached out to collaborate with us because we had gained popularity, or “clout.” So, it seems that you wanted to collaborate with us precisely because we had clout! It’s quite ironic, isn’t it?
In the show, you found an instant connection with Whitney. I wonder how that friendship developed between us? Well, on the show, I was quite vulnerable, feeling as if I was entering a lion’s den. Some people believe that Whitney reaching out to me was strategic, and perhaps it was, but at the moment, it felt like a sincere friendship. At first, I found myself the closest to her and Jen.
Mikayla Matthews suggested we developed a strong bond due to causing harm to friendships and leaving the community known as MomTok. In response, I found her criticism rather harsh for a moment, but it doesn’t come as a surprise given our past history. To be truthful, her remark seems more of a dig at Whitney than at me. My friendship with Whitney may have stirred up some unresolved feelings Mikayla had towards me.
What’s the current status of your connection with Whitney? Well, it’s had its ups and downs, but I can’t reveal much details as we’re currently in the process of filming.
Talking about the Halloween party, Chase turns up. How did you feel in response? Frankly, I wasn’t too taken aback. In that moment, I was trying to win over the ladies, so my former associate, who isn’t generally popular, wouldn’t make my situation any better. Given the circumstances, it didn’t seem likely that things would go smoothly.
Did you perceive Chase making contact with Demi?
Frankly, it looked more like a light touch to me. I was in the living room at the time, and I witnessed it. I won’t hesitate to challenge my ex when I feel he’s doing something questionable, which is why I asked him to leave the Halloween party. Despite our friendly co-parenting relationship, I believe it’s important to speak up. If I always sided with him, we likely wouldn’t be divorced. However, in this instance, I don’t feel his action warranted Bret and Demi’s response.
As a lifelong resident of Idaho and a product of the LDS community, the Mormon Church has played a significant role in shaping my upbringing. My father, who served as a seminary teacher during my formative years, instilled its teachings within me. However, around five years ago, I began to harbor questions about the faith that eventually led me on a journey of self-discovery. Interestingly, my ex-husband had already left the church before I embarked on this exploration. To my surprise, I found myself growing more spiritually connected when I stepped away from the church entirely.
This transition has not been without challenges, as my family remains deeply rooted in the Mormon Church. I am incredibly grateful for their love and support, yet I cannot help but feel a sense of unease about potentially disappointing them due to our differing beliefs.
Can you tell me what issues or problems caused you to start investigating the church? I have noticed that there are ongoing issues related to sexism, racism, and intolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community within many churches, despite efforts at reform. Is this something you’ve encountered as well?
As a movie enthusiast, I haven’t dabbled into ketamine therapy just yet, but it’s definitely on my cinematic bucket list!
Could you tell me what you typically order at Swig when you visit? As I’m not much of a soda drinker, I usually go for either a Strawberry Breeze with still water or a Diet Raspberry Dream instead.
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2025-05-15 15:54