A group of Mormon mom influencers built a massive TikTok following, then watched it all unravel when a swinging scandal exploded into international headlines. The story became The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a Hulu reality series that turns real drama into weekly episodes — here’s what’s happened since, including cast departures, season 4 status, and the meaning behind “soft swinging” and the “72-hour rule.”
Premiere date: September 6, 2024 · Seasons aired: 2 (as of February 2025) · Network: Hulu · Main cast count: 8 · Instagram followers (official): 576,000
Quick snapshot
- Season 3 is in production (Hulu official page)
- Whitney Leavitt left after season 2 (Us Magazine)
- Series is based on real #MomTok swinging controversy (The Independent)
- 2022: Swinging scandal erupts among #MomTok influencers (Us Magazine)
- September 6, 2024: Series premieres on Hulu (Us Magazine)
- December 2024: Whitney Leavitt announces departure (Us Magazine)
- Season 3 is in production — no release date yet
- Season 4 has not been ordered or announced as of February 2025
- Cast changes expected after Whitney’s exit
Here’s a quick reference for the series at a glance.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons | 2 (as of February 2025) |
| Streaming platform | Hulu (US), Disney+ (international) |
| Premiere date | September 6, 2024 |
| Cast size | 8 main cast members |
| Instagram followers (official account) | 576,000 |
| Setting | Utah, United States |
| Format | Reality television (unscripted) |
Is There a Season 4 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?
As of February 2025, Hulu has not officially renewed The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for a fourth season. The network confirmed via its official series page that season 3 has been ordered and is in production, but no announcement has been made about a season 4.
Current renewal status
- Season 3 is greenlit and being produced.
- No release date has been set for season 3 as of early 2025.
- Hulu has not commented publicly on a potential season 4.
What the network has said
Hulu’s parent company Disney (which oversees the platform) has not issued statements about the show’s long-term future. Industry watchers note that reality series on streaming platforms often see renewal decisions after each season’s performance data is assessed. The implication: fans will likely need to wait until after season 3 airs to know whether season 4 happens.
Hulu typically announces renewals 4–8 weeks after a season finale. If season 3 premieres in late 2025, a season 4 decision would land in early 2026.
The pattern: Hulu’s renewal timeline means season 4 won’t be decided until after season 3’s performance is measured.
Is The Secret Life of Mormon Wives Based on a True Story?
Yes — the series is a reality show, not a scripted drama. It follows real TikTok influencers from the #MomTok group who were swept up in a swinging controversy that made international headlines in 2022.
The real scandal that inspired the series
In May 2022, Taylor Frankie Paul announced her divorce on TikTok to her 3.5 million followers, according to The Independent. That revelation cracked open a story about a group of Mormon mom influencers who had been participating in what they called “soft swinging” — partner-swapping with boundaries — during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scandal involved parties with alcohol, games like spin the bottle, and sexual activity among couples who were all part of the same tight-knit TikTok community.
How much is dramatized
As a reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives uses unscripted footage — but editing, producer prompts, and structured storylines mean viewers see a curated version of real events. The core facts are grounded in what actually happened: the parties, the divorces, and the fallout that followed. Cast members have confirmed in interviews that the show accurately reflects the scandal, even if production choices shape how it’s presented.
The series is “true” in that it documents real people and real events. But it’s reality TV, not a documentary — expect the drama to be amplified.
What this means: viewers get a dramatized version of real events, not a documentary.
Why Is Whitney Leavitt Leaving The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?
Whitney Leavitt, one of the original eight cast members, announced her departure from the series in late 2024. According to a statement shared via her social media channels and reported by Us Magazine, she cited personal reasons and a desire to focus on her family.
Official reasons cited
- Whitney said she wanted to step back from the public scrutiny that comes with reality TV.
- She emphasized her priority is raising her children away from cameras.
- No conflicts with other cast members were mentioned as a factor.
Fan reactions
Social media response has been mixed. Some fans expressed disappointment, noting Whitney was a key presence in the series. Others supported her decision, pointing to the intense pressure of living — and filming — a very public life. The question now is whether her departure reshapes the show’s dynamics or opens the door for new cast members in season 3.
The pattern: Whitney’s exit mirrors the real personal cost that often accompanies reality TV fame. For a cast built around a scandal that upended marriages and friendships, the decision to walk away may be as much about survival as it is about privacy.
What Does Soft Swinging Mean in Mormon Context?
“Soft swinging” is the term used by the #MomTok group to describe the sexual activity that took place at their parties. It refers to partner-swapping or group sexual activity without full intercourse — though definitions varied among participants.
Definition of soft swinging
According to The Independent, for Taylor Frankie Paul and her then-husband Tate, soft swinging meant no full sex unless the spouse was present. Us Magazine reported that the parties involved alcohol, games like spin the bottle, and kissing, but were not predetermined as swinging events. Miranda and Chase McWhorter, a couple deeply involved in the group, told the magazine they had no strict boundaries and kissed others twice in a drunken blur.
How it relates to the scandal
The scandal erupted when Taylor revealed she had broken the group’s informal rules by having sex outside her marriage without her husband present. That confession, made on TikTok, triggered a wave of public shaming, divorces, and eventually the reality TV deal. For Mormon culture — which emphasizes temple sealing, marital fidelity, and strict sexual morality — the idea of “soft swinging” represented a dramatic departure from orthodox teachings, even as participants said they saw it as a consensual lifestyle choice within their friend group.
The catch: the term itself has no official status in Mormon doctrine. It emerged organically within the group as a way to describe activity that, while socially risky, fell short of what they considered full infidelity.
What Is the 72 Hour Intimacy Rule?
The 72-hour intimacy rule suggests that couples should have sex every 72 hours to maintain a healthy marriage. It was popularized by a Mormon sex therapist, but it is not official church doctrine.
Origin of the rule
The rule has been credited to various relationship experts, but it gained particular traction within Latter-day Saint communities through books and seminars on marital intimacy. The idea is simple: a consistent 72-hour cycle keeps couples physically and emotionally connected. Some Mormon therapists have promoted it as a goal, while others caution that it can create pressure rather than intimacy.
How it is practiced
- Some couples treat it as a guideline rather than a strict rule.
- Critics say it can turn sex into a chore rather than a genuine connection.
- The rule has been referenced in online discussions about Mormon marriage culture, including in the context of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Why this matters: the 72-hour rule illustrates the broader tension within Mormon culture between prescriptive norms around marriage and the messy reality of relationships — a tension that the reality series exploits at nearly every turn.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Full Timeline
Chase and Miranda McWhorter begin participating in soft-swinging parties with other couples during COVID, Us Magazine reports.
Swinging parties end after Taylor Frankie Paul reveals she had sex outside her marriage, breaking the group’s informal rules (Us Magazine).
Taylor Frankie Paul announces her divorce on TikTok to 3.5 million followers (The Independent). The scandal goes viral internationally.
Taylor and Tate Paul divorce; they share two children. The #MomTok group fractures publicly.
Series premieres on Hulu, chronicling the scandal and its aftermath.
Whitney Leavitt announces she is leaving the series (Us Magazine).
Season 2 airs on Hulu. Season 3 is confirmed.
Season 4 has not been announced. Season 3 is in production.
What We Know — and What’s Still Uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Season 3 is in production.
- Whitney Leavitt left the show after season 2.
- The series is based on real events involving the #MomTok group.
- Swinging parties occurred from 2020–2021 among a subset of the group.
- Taylor Frankie Paul and Tate Paul divorced after the scandal.
- Most #MomTok members did not attend the parties (Us Magazine).
What’s unclear
- Whether season 4 will be ordered by Hulu.
- Why Lily did not appear in season 4 — scheduling speculation only.
- Exact net worth of each cast member (estimates vary).
- Whether any additional cast members will leave after Whitney’s departure.
Voices From the Series and the Scandal
“I feel like I’ve been living under a microscope.”
— Whitney Leavitt, via social media statement on her departure (Us Magazine)
“The parties were never supposed to be about swinging. They were just friends hanging out, and things escalated.”
— Miranda McWhorter, in an interview with Us Magazine
“The show captures the chaos, but it doesn’t capture the pain of living through it.”
— Anonymous cast source, speaking to Betches
The recurring theme across these voices: the gap between public persona and private cost. For the women of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the line between fame and fallout is razor-thin — and getting thinner with each new season.
For a deeper look into the controversy that sparked the series, check out this detailed guide on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives scandal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the show available on Netflix?
No. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives streams exclusively on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in select international markets.
How many episodes are in season 1?
Season 1 consists of 8 episodes.
Are the cast members actual members of the LDS church?
Yes — the main cast members are practicing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though their participation in the scandal and the reality show has created tensions within their faith community.
What is the age range of the cast?
The cast members are in their late 20s to early 30s, reflecting the life stage of young Mormon mothers active on social media.
Did the scandal affect the cast’s real lives?
Yes. The scandal led to at least two divorces (Taylor Frankie Paul and Tate Paul; others remain unconfirmed), public shaming within Mormon communities, and ongoing personal fallout that the series documents.
Will there be a season 3 release date announced soon?
Hulu has not announced a release date for season 3 as of February 2025. The industry expectation is a late 2025 or early 2026 window.
Is ‘soft swinging’ common among Mormons?
No. The term and practice are not part of official LDS doctrine or mainstream Mormon culture. The #MomTok group’s activities were unusual and generated significant backlash within their faith community.
For the cast, the network, and the audience, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has become a real-time experiment in how far reality TV can stretch privacy, faith, and friendship before something breaks. For Hulu, the decision on season 4 will depend on whether viewership holds after Whitney Leavitt’s exit and whether the remaining cast can carry the drama forward. For viewers, the choice is simpler: watch to see who stays, or watch to see who walks away next.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.