Behind the NCIS: Sydney Badge: The Cast’s Jaw-Dropping Love Stories & One UNEXPECTED Co-Star Couple!

Todd Lasance/Instagram; Sam Tabone/WireImage Todd Lasance and his wife Jordan Lasance. ; Mavournee Hazel and Josh McKenzie attends a celebration event on October 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.
Todd Lasance/Instagram; Sam Tabone/WireImage

Todd Lasance and his wife Jordan Lasance. ; Mavournee Hazel and Josh McKenzie attends a celebration event on October 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.
The NCIS: Sydney season 2 finale airs April 25, but like a boomerang, the series is returning — with a third season already announced.

The first international version of the NCIS franchise has been a hit for CBS, finding success with a familiar formula.

Viewers can count on seeing interesting cases unfold in every episode, but the series has surprised fans with what some see as a “slow-burn” romance between Special Agent DeShawn Jackson (Sean Sagar) and AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle). Still, some may compare them to bickering siblings rather than love interests.

Although there’s plenty of drama on NCIS: Sydney, the cast members’ lives look different away from the cameras. Though actors Sagar and Narkle have chemistry on the show, they both appear to be single.

Meanwhile, a few other stars are in long-term relationships, like Todd Lasance, who has been with his wife Jordan Wilcox since 2015, and Bert LaBonté, who married his wife, Amanda LaBonté, in 2002.

Here’s everything to know about the real-life partners of the NCIS: Sydney cast.

Olivia Swann
Karwai Tang/WireImag Olivia Swannattends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022 at Royal Albert Hall on March 13, 2022 in London, England.
Karwai Tang/WireImag

Olivia Swannattends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022 at Royal Albert Hall on March 13, 2022 in London, England.
Olivia Swann plays NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey on the international spinoff. Her character might be American, but Swann is actually British, having been born in London.

Though it is unknown if Swann is dating anyone, she has fallen head over heels for the city of Sydney while filming the procedural.

“I have fallen completely in love with this place. I don’t want to leave,” she told InStyle Australia in December 2023.

Todd Lasance and Jordan Wilcox
Jordan Lasance/Instagram Todd Lasance and his wife Jordan Lasance.
Jordan Lasance/Instagram

Todd Lasance and his wife Jordan Lasance.
Todd Lasance keeps Sydney streets safe as Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey, a member of the Australian Federal Police.

On the series, JD and Michelle have grown closer, but in real life, Todd is married to Jordan Wilcox Lasance. The couple crossed paths in 2015 and married five years later.

“Before we met I had always been a long-term-relationship kind of guy. I wasn’t looking for her when she came into my world,” Lasance told The Sydney Morning Herald in June 2017. “She is a selfless human who has a calming nature which balances out my over-hyperactivity. I am in awe of her generosity and empathy.”

Lasance and Jordan share two children: a daughter, Charlie Rose, born in 2016, and a son, Beau, in 2023.

Sean Sagar
Arturo Holmes/WireImage Sean Sagar attends the Netflix’s
Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Sean Sagar attends the Netflix’s “Mea Culpa” New York Premiere at Paris Theater on February 15, 2024 in New York City.
Sean Sagar plays Special Agent DeShawn Jackson. While his relationship status might be a mystery, he has love for his NCIS: Sydney costars.

“Still doesn’t feel real. Just glad the world will now get to see what these incredible individuals next to me and off-camera have created. What a moment in my life, one I will never forget,” he wrote on Instagram in November 2023, sharing images of the NCIS: Sydney cast at the series’ global launch event.

Sagar previously dated Little Mix member Jesy Nelson in 2020, and they broke up the following year.

Tuuli Narkle.
Fans might be shipping Tuuli Narkle’s character, Constable Evie Cooper, and Sean Sager’s DeShawn Jackson, but her relationship status off-screen is currently unclear.

“I know deep down it’s all love,” Tuuli told Parade about Evie’s relationship with DeShawn. “I know she loves DeShawn Jackson. So, in my head, I’m like, ‘It’s such a beautiful dynamic that we have on and off-screen that allows us to bring those characters to life for the audience.’ “

Mavournee Hazel and Josh McKenzie
Kim Landy/Getty Josh McKenzie and Mavournee Hazel attend the BYD SEALION 6 Launch on May 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Kim Landy/Getty

Josh McKenzie and Mavournee Hazel attend the BYD SEALION 6 Launch on May 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Mavournee Hazel plays forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson. On the series, her character prioritizes lab work over love, but in real life, the former Neighbours star is dating fellow actor Josh McKenzie.

In a January 2019 interview with Sportsgirl, Mavournee came out as demisexual, someone who feels a sexual attraction toward a person only after they’ve developed an emotional relationship with them first, per PFLAG.

“I used to think there was something wrong with me or that I was broken because I wasn’t into the dating game, but as I got older I realized there is a whole spectrum,” she revealed. “Dating isn’t a massive priority and it never has been.”

“My definition of love is very different of other people’s,” Mavournee added.

Bert LaBonte and Amanda LaBonte.
Bert LaBonté plays Special Agent Ken Carter on NCIS: Sydney. In real life, he is married to actress Amanda LaBonté.

They wed in 2002 and share two sons.

“Photo taken 22 years to the day in the same spot we got our wedding pics. Happy anniversary babe! Couldn’t feel luckier than to do life with you,” he wrote on Instagram in April 2024.

Read the original article on People

Don’t miss our daily roundup.
Stay informed with a handpicked selection of the day’s top AOL stories, delivered to your inbox.
Enter your email
In Other News
Finance
Reuters
Reuters
Alphabet’s Waymo gets California nod for robotaxi expansion in San Francisco Bay Area
Alphabet’s Waymo gets California nod for robotaxi expansion in San Francisco Bay Area
Associated Press Finance
Associated Press Finance
Developer to resume NY offshore wind project after Trump administration lifts pause
Developer to resume NY offshore wind project after Trump administration lifts pause
IC Markets•Ad
Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy
Food
Eating Well
Eating Well
18 heart-healthy Mediterranean diet snacks
18 heart-healthy Mediterranean diet snacks
Serious Eats
Serious Eats
12 delightful summer dinner recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less
12 delightful summer dinner recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less
Lighter Side
People
People
Texas triplets graduating from same college: ‘We’ve gone through everything together’
Texas triplets graduating from same college: ‘We’ve gone through everything together’
People
People
Little Girls’ Shopping Trip for ‘Church Heels’ Becomes Dance Party with Cheering Empl…
Little Girls’ Shopping Trip for ‘Church Heels’ Becomes Dance Party with Cheering Employees (Exclusive)
News
People
People
NC man fights off coyote with bare hands after brutal attack: ‘I felt something watch…
NC man fights off coyote with bare hands after brutal attack: ‘I felt something watching me’
Associated Press
Associated Press
Shipment of thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck now overwhelming an ani…
Shipment of thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck now overwhelming an animal shelter
Sports
Associated Press
Associated Press
Caitlin Clark says it was too loud to hear alleged racial comments but supports WNBA …
Caitlin Clark says it was too loud to hear alleged racial comments but supports WNBA investigation
USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. ready for Year 2: ‘I’m always looking to improve’
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. ready for Year 2: ‘I’m always looking to improve’
Weather
NBC Universal
NBC Universal
As thunderstorms threaten Alabama, National Weather Service warns of radio outage
As thunderstorms threaten Alabama, National Weather Service warns of radio outage
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
Severe Weather, Tornadoes Target Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas
Severe Weather, Tornadoes Target Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas

Meet the 22 Kids of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Cast
People
Nicole Briese
Tue, May 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM GMT+7

0
Whitney Leavitt/Instagram; Mikayla Matthews/Instagram Whitney Leavitt and children Sedona, Liam, and Billy Gene; Mikayla Matthews and children
Whitney Leavitt/Instagram; Mikayla Matthews/Instagram

Whitney Leavitt and children Sedona, Liam, and Billy Gene; Mikayla Matthews and children

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast share 22 children between them

Three cast members — Jen Affleck, Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley — are expecting

Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on May 15

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast has a large collective family tree — and it’s about to get even bigger.

Stars Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Layla Taylor, Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt and Miranda McWhorter have 22 children between them, with three more babies on the way.

Jen, who shares daughter Nora and son Lucas with husband Zac Affleck, was the first to announce that she was expecting ahead of season 2, which debuted on May 15. “It was a surprise,” she told PEOPLE in February 2025. “There were a lot of emotions after a very crazy year!”

Mikayla and Mayci also shared their pregnancies with PEOPLE in February 2025. The former said her fourth pregnancy with husband Jace Terry came as a surprise, while the latter and her husband Jacob Neeley conceived via in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

In addition to sharing their pregnancy journeys via social media, Jen, Mikayla and Mayci also filmed their experiences for season 2 of Mormon Wives, including Jen bursting into tears on-screen when she found out she was expecting her third child.

Keep reading to find out more about the children of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s 3 Children
Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram Taylor Frankie Paul’s kids
Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram

Taylor Frankie Paul’s kids
Taylor and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, welcomed their daughter, Indy May, on Aug. 31, 2017. She became a big sister on June 18, 2020, when the former couple’s second child, son Ocean, was born.

“The names I love are just not for everyone. I feel like they’re kinda unique,” Taylor later shared in a 2023 TikTok video.

The influencer has also shared about her children’s interests. Indy “loves makeup, nails, dresses,” as Taylor wrote on Instagram in 2021. Ocean, meanwhile, has been given a hilarious nickname by fans. As he got older, Taylor’s viewers likened his hair to that of The Vampire Diaries’ Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), earning him the moniker “baby Stefan.”

Taylor and her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, welcomed their son Ever True on March 19, 2024. Soon after his birth, Taylor gave some insight into her youngest child’s name, revealing, “The name Ever meaning: always, eternity, and strong as a boar.”

For his first birthday, Ever celebrated with his mom, siblings and Dakota. “He is the sweetest soul and loves love,” Taylor wrote on Instagram. “Needy like his daddy and stubborn like his mommy. Just as hyper as his sister and brother.”

Demi Engemann’s Daughter and 2 Stepsons
Demi Engemann/Instagram; Bret Engemann/Instagram Demi Engemann and daughter Maude; Demi Engemann’s stepsons, and Bret Engemann’s sons Cole and Rome
Demi Engemann/Instagram; Bret Engemann/Instagram

Demi Engemann and daughter Maude; Demi Engemann’s stepsons, and Bret Engemann’s sons Cole and Rome
Demi has one daughter, Maude Grace Corbin, with ex-husband Blake Corbin.

In 2021, she married her husband Bret Engemann, giving her daughter two new stepbrothers, Cole and Rome Engemann, from Bret’s previous marriage to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Angie Harrington.

In a June 2024 Instagram post celebrating Father’s Day, Demi called Bret “the most devoted step-dad to Maude.” She added that the couple may be expanding their family, calling Bret the “future father to our own children one day.”

In season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Demi opened up about her fertility journey. “It is so taxing and emotionally draining,” she said on the show. “It’s more how bad Maude wants a sibling and how bad I want that with someone that I’m in love with.”

Jessi Ngatikaura’s 2 Children and Stepdaughter
Jessi Ngatikaura/Instagram; Jordan Ngatikaura/Instagram Jordan Ngatikaura and Jessi Ngatikaura’s children
Jessi Ngatikaura/Instagram; Jordan Ngatikaura/Instagram

Jordan Ngatikaura and Jessi Ngatikaura’s children
Jessi shares a daughter, a son and a stepdaughter, Peyton, with her husband Jordan Ngatikaura.

On April 20, 2020, the couple welcomed son Jagger Zayn, who had a bit of a rough start.

“He is our perfect chunky boy!” Jordan wrote via Instagram. “Unfortunately he’s having some problems with his lungs and is currently in the NICU getting some help. He is a fighter just like his momma.”

The couple’s youngest child, Jovi, arrived on Jan. 13, 2023. “Jovi was the missing piece,” Jessi wrote in a sweet birthday tribute on Instagram.

Jessi explained the reasoning behind her daughter’s unique name in a 2024 TikTok video, saying, “We chose Jovi because we have a son named Jagger and I liked the theme of, like, old rock and roll — Bon Jovi, Mick Jagger. I just felt like they really went well together.”

Mikayla Matthews’ 3 Children — and Baby on the Way
Mikayla Matthews/Instagram Mikayla Matthews, husband Jace Terry, and children Tommie, Haven, and Beckham
Mikayla Matthews/Instagram

Mikayla Matthews, husband Jace Terry, and children Tommie, Haven, and Beckham
Mikayla became pregnant with her first child, Beckham Jace, when she was 16 years old, and he made The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star a mom on July 3, 2017.

For his 7th birthday in July 2024, Mikayla and her husband, Jace Terry, surprised Beckham with a new blue bike. “Thanks mom!” the boy exclaimed in a sweet TikTok.

The influencer welcomed her first daughter, Haven Monroe, on Aug. 30, 2019. “2019 brought me my perfect little Haven girl, and it’s been nothing but happiness ever since.💞” she wrote on Instagram.

Haven enjoys Moana and the colors blue, purple, green and pink, per her annual birthday interview with her mom.

Mikayla gave birth to her second daughter, Tommie Grace, on Nov. 15, 2021. In February 2025, Matthews revealed that she was pregnant with her fourth child. The new addition has motivated Matthews to grow her family even more, as she told PEOPLE.

“I’m surrounded by Mormon culture still and my husband’s siblings all have so many kids. They’re like, ‘Once you hit three kids, you can have 10 kids,’ That’s kind of the mindset I have,” she said. “When people ask me how many kids I want, I’m like, ‘I’ve always wanted three or four, but I could see myself having six.’ “

Mayci Neeley’s 2 Children — and Baby on the Way
Mayci Neeley/Instagram Mayci Neeley, husband Jacob Neeley, and children Hudson and Harlow
Mayci Neeley/Instagram

Mayci Neeley, husband Jacob Neeley, and children Hudson and Harlow
Mayci welcomed her first child, son Hudson on Sept. 21, 2015, after his father, Arik Mack, died in a car crash.

“When I met my son everything changed,” she said in an Instagram video. “I became the best version of myself. I was happy and finally felt whole again. I know he was put in my life for a reason.”

In 2018, Mayci married her husband Jacob Neeley, who legally adopted Hudson, per a 2023 YouTube video.

On Feb. 11, 2021, the couple welcomed their daughter Harlow. “She’s perfect and has completed our family,” Mayci told The Mirror in 2022.

Harlow has since grown into a “positive, energetic, spunky, happy [and] athletic” little girl, Mayci shared in a February Instagram post. “I love to see the little queen she’s turning into,” she added.

In February 2025, Mayci exclusively told PEOPLE that she and Jacob were expecting their third child — much to the excitement of Hudson and Harlow.

“My kids are so excited to have a sibling. They already fight over whose baby it is, which is so funny,” she said. “My daughter, she’s like, ‘It’s my baby!’ and my son’s like, ‘No, it’s our baby.’ They fight over who is going to change diapers and I’m like, ‘Great, I’ve got some little helpers.’ “

Whitney Leavitt’s 3 Children
Whitney Leavitt/Instagram Whitney Leavitt, husband Conner Leavitt, and children Sedona, Liam, and Billy Gene
Whitney Leavitt/Instagram

Whitney Leavitt, husband Conner Leavitt, and children Sedona, Liam, and Billy Gene
Whitney and husband Connor Leavitt have three children — Sedona was born in November 2019, Liam in December 2021 and Billy Gene arrived last in October 2024.

“We are most excited about having our family complete,” the influencer told PEOPLE after giving birth to Billy Gene. “We’ve always wanted three kids and we’re so happy everyone’s here now.”

Though the parents chose a “gender-neutral” first name for their youngest, Whitney said she strongly suspected Billy was a boy. “I was very confident that I was having a boy because Billy’s pregnancy was so similar to my son, Liam’s, pregnancy,” she said.

Now, Whitney’s oldest is seemingly following in her mother’s footsteps. “Every day I open my phone to find a new batch of videos from Sedona — her documenting every little moment with baby Billy,” Whitney shared on Instagram in February 2025.

Jen Affleck’s 2 Children — and Baby on the Way
Jennifer Affleck/Instagram Jen Affleck and children Nora and Lucas
Jennifer Affleck/Instagram

Jen Affleck and children Nora and Lucas
Jen and her husband Zac became parents on Nov. 4, 2021, when she gave birth to daughter Nora. “Words can’t express how much we love this girl,” Jen captioned her baby’s birth announcement.

On July 27, 2023, the couple welcomed their son Lucas. He even came a few weeks early, with Jen starting her contractions while she and Zac were on a road trip two hours from home, as she told followers in a 2023 TikTok.

Jen has since called Nora “spunky, kind and full of life.” Lucas, meanwhile, is the “happiest, smiliest, and most chill baby ever,” as Jen shared on Instagram in February 2024.

A year later, Jen exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that she was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Nora is especially looking forward to the addition.

“Nora has been hoping for a little sister, and I can tell she really wants it to be a girl!” Jen said, noting that she and Zac were waiting to find out their third child’s sex until the baby arrives.

Layla Taylor’s 2 Children
Layla Taylor/Instagram Layla Taylor and sons Oliver and Max
Layla Taylor/Instagram

Layla Taylor and sons Oliver and Max
Layla shares two sons — Oliver “Ollie” Clay and Maxwell Dean — with her ex-husband Clayton Wessel.

In July 2023, Taylor interviewed Ollie for a sweet birthday video during which the toddler revealed a few of his interests, including “[doggies],” the color blue and cars.

Based on videos and photos his mom has shared on social media, Maxwell enjoys exploring the outdoors in Salt Lake City with his big brother.

Miranda McWhorter’s 2 Children
Miranda McWhorter/Instagram Miranda McWhorter and children Brooks and Cohen
Miranda McWhorter/Instagram

Miranda McWhorter and children Brooks and Cohen
The newest addition to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Miranda, shares two children with her ex-husband, Chase McWhorter.

Brooks has become Miranda’s adventure buddy, going on hikes, exploring Disneyland and playing in the snow with his mom and little sister Cohen, per her Instagram.

Along with her big brother Brooks, Cohen also regularly goes on adventures with her mom. She celebrated her 3rd birthday at Disneyland in October 2024, dressing up in a princess costume.

Of her daughter’s transformation, Miranda wrote: “I am still unwell over this.”

Read the original article on People

Show comments
0
Jessi Responds to Bombshell Marciano Affair Claims on ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
Cosmopolitan
Mehera Bonner
Mon, May 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM GMT+7

0
Gather round, everyone who’s already watched The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2. We have some questions. Specifically questions about the bombshell allegations that were dropped in the last few moments of the show, when Layla Taylor sat down with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette.

Some background: Several members of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast made an appearance on Vanderpump Villa, and there was speculation that Jessi Ngatikaura and Marciano formed a connection and were spotted making out in West Hollywood. Jessi denied this on the show, saying “If I was dumb enough to do that, I wouldn’t do it in public.” However, Marciano then alleged to Layla that he and Jessi had slept together and had an ongoing affair.

While Jessi hasn’t dropped a formal statement, she recently hopped on Instagram and TikTok to share the below video—captioning it “I’ll speak when I can” and “that ending though.”

Several of Jessi’s fellow SLOMW stars have supported her, including Layla who reposted the video and wrote “So proud of Jess and how she’s handling all the noise. That [meet] up with Marciano was the opposite of what I expected, and I can’t wait for the truth to be shown. I love you Jess.”

a young woman expressing pride for her friend jess in a social media post
Instagram
As for where Jessi and her husband, Jordan, stand, things seem totally fine based on him dropping a Mother’s Day tribute earlier this month, writing “Your strength, your softness, and the way you show up for them every single day is nothing short of beautiful” and “Through all of life’s ups and downs, I still choose you. I still love you every single day.”

You Might Also Like

Here’s What NOT to Wear to a Wedding

Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You’ll Ever Try

Show comments
0
The 10 Biggest Bombshell Moments from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 2
People
Angela Andaloro
Tue, May 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM GMT+7

0
secretlivesonhulu/Instagram Top row: Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor, Miranda McWhorter, Bottom row: Jen Affleck, Taylor Frankie Paul, Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, Whitney Leavitt
secretlivesonhulu/Instagram

Top row: Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor, Miranda McWhorter, Bottom row: Jen Affleck, Taylor Frankie Paul, Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, Whitney Leavitt

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ new season is now available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+

Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jennifer Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor and Miranda McWhorter appear this season

PEOPLE is looking back at the biggest moments from this season

MomTok’s drama is wilder than ever before.

The new season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives proves the old adage, “more money, more problems,” as the success of the show — and their roles as content creators as a whole — puts each of these moms to the test.

While Demi Engemann and Taylor Frankie Paul feud about money and the direction of MomTok, Jennifer Affleck and Jessi Ngatikaura face rumors about their relationships. Meanwhile, last season’s “villain” Whitney Leavitt makes her return, excited to get back in her former friends’ good graces.

Jen, along with Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley, all tackle the season’s drama with babies on the way, while Layla Taylor and newcomer Miranda McWhorter dive into dating after divorce.

Here are the biggest moments that came out of Hulu’s latest check-in with the ladies of MomTok.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Taylor’s meetup with Jenna
Taylor was ready to learn the truth about Dakota Mortensen’s fling with Jenna Jarvis and how much it may have overlapped with their relationship. The emotional meetup shows the women comparing notes, with Jenna handing her phone over to Taylor for anything she wants to see.

“It’s so awful. This is actually so awful. He definitely lied a ton…” she says, scrolling. “Now, I get why he was so terrified of all of this.”

Jenna says she had questions about Dakota and Taylor, but he reassured her it wasn’t what it looked like.

“You posted a TikTok with him in your bathroom, and I just had like this feeling in my chest, like, ‘Don’t trust him,’ kind of. And I said, ‘Are you dating Taylor?’ And he told me, ‘No, that’s just for clout. She’s just helping me build my social media,'” Jenna reveals.

Mayci confirmed Dakota said he was “seeing Taylor for clout,” which Jenna again confirmed, apologizing to Taylor as she cried.

Zac reveals Jen’s mistruths
Jen Affleck’s way of relaying the truth is called into question by a few people in season 2. In part, it’s because of times when husband Zac gets different stories about her behavior than what he’s experienced.

During his sitdown with Demi and Jessi, Zac confronts them about saying he gambled away money meant to pay for medical school. He claims that idea is “a blatant lie,” while the two point out they got that information from Jen.

In a confessional, Jessi says, “There’s always been an element of Jen, where I don’t fully trust what she’s saying. I feel like not a lot of it is sincere or genuine and I blamed it on the relationship — [that] she’s not sure what to say or how to say it, because how Zac will react.”

“But now that I’m hearing these things, I’m like, ‘Is she just not trustworthy as a person? Does she not like confrontation, and she doesn’t like to make people upset, so she tells everyone what they want to hear?'” she continues. “I’m really, really confused.”

When Demi notes that it seems like there’s “a pattern,” Zac agrees, leaving him feeling like there are “tough conversations I need to have with my own wife.”

Later, when Zac is upset that a surprise faux Chippendales performance happens at the Halloween party, with Jen as the guest of honor, she tells him she didn’t know it was coming. In a confessional, she reveals that’s not the case.

“I did hear Jessi and Demi kind of bring it up jokingly when I was at Jessi’s salon, but I didn’t think they were serious. To be honest, I knew partially of what they were gonna do, but I didn’t realize how bad this upset Zac,” she says.

“I just wanted to be the fun friend, who just said yeah, and that it would be so awesome, but I didn’t really question their intentions behind it. And I also didn’t ask myself how I felt about it.”

When he finds out as much from Jordan and Bret after confronting them about the uncomfortable moment, Zac says he feels Jen needs to work on “more honest and straightforward communication” with everyone.

Taylor’s family barbecue goes wrong
Taylor shows up at her mom’s house for a family barbecue, only to learn that her mom invited Dakota Mortensen. In a confessional, the MomToker explains that she’s “struggling” in the relationship, “but it’s hard because my parents really want us to give our all before we say we quit.”

That fact comes on display when the members of Taylor’s family dissect what’s wrong with the relationship as they all sit together at the gathering.

They sit down to eat, and Liann asks about the status of their relationship and tells the two they’re “so exhausting” and that “we’re all tired of it.” Jeremy adds, “You guys started your relationship on a foundation of s—.”

“Be honest,” he continues, addressing each of them. “You didn’t heal from your divorce. You have a ton of baggage.”

Brother Hunter continues to urge Taylor to “give an inch so he can walk a mile.” She says she feels “judged” and “unheard” as they tell her Dakota didn’t cheat because, Liann points out, they “weren’t really together.” She advises her daughter that she needs to “give him some grace” and start over.

Taylor details what happened between her and Miranda
When Taylor exposed the soft-swinging sex scandal back in June 2022, she also announced her divorce from Tate Paul. One of the couples involved in that circle was Miranda McWhorter and her then-husband, Chase McWhorter. With differing stories on how far things went between the two former best friends, MomTok looks for clarity.

Miranda tries to say she didn’t participate in anything beyond kissing. A frustrated Taylor says in a confessional that, “It wasn’t just kissing,” continuing, “I don’t know what to say about it. Yeah, it’s true, but like, also not. This is downplaying what actually happened.”

In a later confessional, Taylor is more blunt about the details.

“We did have sex in the shower with our husbands, all together. We also had sex in the same bed, at the same time. We would blindfold each other and you would have to guess which husband you were kissing, and a couple times we did that.”

She continued, “We also had a night where it was just four husbands and you and me. They asked us to go get in short shorts, so we did. And then we were making out and they filmed it on their phones.”

In her own confessional, Miranda says, “Taylor’s not wrong.” She continues, “At this point, I don’t even know if I should say, ‘Yes, I am a swinger,’ or ‘No, I’m not a swinger.’ You guys can call it whatever you want, you tell me if I am or not.”

A fight breaks out at the Halloween party
Tensions are high at the Halloween party, where Miranda’s ex Chase is also in attendance. When he and Taylor start to have it out, Dakota sides with Chase.

As Chase is leaving, Demi says, “Your girlfriend’s outside crying and you should take care of that.” He walks by her and grabs her side as he tells her, “Where’s your husband?” She immediately goes upstairs and tells Bret, who runs out after him, with Jessi’s husband Jordan running after him.

A fistfight nearly ensues, with the men outside screaming at each other. Jordan tells Chase he needs to “take accountability” for his actions and then leaves. The situation is diffused and just as the party’s about to resume, the police show up.

Jessi’s new neighbors called about the disturbance. When they ask what’s going on, Jessi asks if they’ve seen the show.

Jen slams Jessi’s husband Jordan’s faux lap dance
Hulu Jen Affleck gets lap dance from Jordan Ngatikaura as Zac Affleck watches
Hulu

Jen Affleck gets lap dance from Jordan Ngatikaura as Zac Affleck watches
When Jen and Jessi meet to try to clear the air after the Halloween party, Jen begins the sit-down by saying she’s going to take accountability. She then accuses Jessi of trying to purposefully hurt her.

“It makes me question your character —,” she begins. Jessi stops her and says, “Character is definitely what we need to talk about because you’re the liar here.”

Jen acknowledges Demi asked her for consent for Bret to dress up and perform, but didn’t mention the Jordan or the dancer who trained them.

“She said, ‘There are things that I want to keep as a surprise.’ You said, ‘Totally, go for it. That would be so fun. I would be totally good with it.”

Jen says that what Demi described was “lighthearted” and what actually transpired was “disrespectful.”

Jen says they should have thought about her relationship and its fragility and “would have never consented” to the dancer or Jordan being involved.

“You literally gaslight everyone saying I had consent over everything that happened and that’s not true,” Jen doubles down.

As Jessi recaps all the things she and Demi said about the situation, Jen interrupts and says, “You’re saying i gave consent for your husband consent to rub his little dick on me?”

Jessi refutes that and adds that Jen is “such a prude.” Jen ends the conversation and storms off.

Rumors lead to a second look at Demi and Bret’s marriage
Demi Engemann/Instagram Bret and Demi Engemann
Demi Engemann/Instagram

Bret and Demi Engemann
Mayci shares with Mikayla and Taylor that she got an anonymous Sinner Sunday submission about Demi’s husband, Bret. The tip read, “I slept with Demi’s husband last year while she was away.”

While Mikayla was the first to dismiss it as untrue, paired with another rumor that Demi had something to hide from her time at Vanderpump Villa in Italy, the MomTokers started to call the relationship into question.

Demi is asked about it later and says that she and Bret have only been apart for 5 days in their whole marriage. That said, she added that if it had happened and she’d found out, she would leave the relationship. “The truth always comes around,” she says.

Later, Demi says that her husband is no stranger to rumors of infidelity. She’d heard that and worse from him after his first marriage, but she knew the man he was. In a conversation between them, Bret acknowledges he needs to worry less about “optics.”

Though the two stick together, there is an off-camera moment where Demi remarks he’s acting “guilty.” Mayci later admits she regrets sharing the rumor.

Demi was willing to let Jessi leave the show
Hulu Demi Engemann and Jessi Ngatikaura
Hulu

Demi Engemann and Jessi Ngatikaura
Midseason, viewers learn besties Demi and Jessi “did have a falling out” over a “little disagreement about money.”

After the two didn’t stick together as planned in contract negotiations, Taylor claims, “Demi got on a whole other call with MomTok.” She continues, “Demi’s like, ‘Yeah, f— Jessi at this point. Let’s push her to the side.’ She was talking mad s—.”

Explaining her side of it in a confessional, Demi says, “Jessi sits on an empire of this hair business and does really well financially, so it felt a little selfish to me.”

Later, the situation gets stickier when Taylor reveals Demi recommended to people, including herself, not to visit Jessi’s salon.

“In this moment, I’m feeling betrayed and kind of deflated,” Jessi admits in a confessional.

“Hearing her explanations makes me feel worse, to be honest, because I don’t think she means her apology. She’s blaming it on [other] people. So, it has opened my eyes to a lot of things. It does make me wonder if Demi is the cancer in this group. I think I’m going to put a wall up and put a little distance between us moving forward.”

Viewers encourage Jessi to get her thyroid checked
Jessi reveals that she needs thyroid surgery after being encouraged to get her thyroid checked by viewers from season 1. After she did, she was told she had an enlarged thyroid with some “nodules,” and that it was recommended she get it out.

“They won’t know ‘til they take it out,” she explains. “But if I don’t get it removed and it is cancer, it could spread to my lymph nodes.”

She goes ahead with the surgery and gets the good news that what was removed was benign. Celebrating in her confessional, Jessi recognizes life as “precious” and hopes for more positivity moving forward.

Jen exits filming early
Hulu Jen Affleck tearfully discusses mental health
Hulu

Jen Affleck tearfully discusses mental health
Jen’s struggles with her mental health, especially after learning of her third pregnancy, were a poignant moment in season 2. The MomToker admitted she wasn’t sure if she was experiencing prenatal depression or was simply overwhelmed by raising two under three while expecting another baby and working on her marriage.

In a confessional, husband Zac says, “Jen hasn’t been doing well. She’s been having a hard time getting out of bed and we just realized that we need to get Jen the help she needs to get better and honestly get in a more stable place. It’s been really hard, just her being pregnant with our next child and having two children and trying to show up for them. I think when you face a really serious mental health crisis, you take a step back and realize what really matters.”

Of her own feelings, Jen says, “Zac is trying to support me in what I need but it’s been a lot. It’s been for sure one of the hardest seasons of my life, physically and mentally. Whether it’s prenatal depression or postpartum, I think a lot of mothers feel like they don’t deserve help. But in reality, we need help too. As of right now, I need to take a step back from MomTok and solely focus on my mental health and this baby so I can be the best version of myself for everyone around me.

Her scene concludes with a note from production, explaining, “Out of respect for Jen’s privacy, production has made the decision to stop filming with her at this time so she can focus on her mental health.”

Mayci faces grief and works on her memoir while pregnant
Hulu Mikayla Matthews comforts Mayci Neeley
Hulu

Mikayla Matthews comforts Mayci Neeley
When Mayci announces the news that she has a book deal, she celebrates the opportunity to share her story with other women who might have unexpectedly found themselves as single moms.

Mayci was just a few weeks pregnant when college boyfriend Arik Mack was killed in a car accident. Knowing she’ll discuss this time in her life in the book, she meets with Arik’s family to get their blessing.

In a confessional, she shares, “I truly feel like he was my first love and it just destroyed me. I didn’t want to live, to be honest, and if it wasn’t for my son, I don’t even know if I’d be here today.”

She also visits the site of the fatal crash for the first time, with Mikayla as moral support.

“I was 13 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Me and him got into a disagreement. Mainly me, I was upset with him, and we were sending texts back and forth and one of his texts was unfinished at the end of it. So I was kind of waiting for him to respond,” she explains.

Mayci tells her best friend that she was out to dinner when she saw someone post about her boyfriend’s death on Instagram.

In her confessional, she cries as she recalls, “I remember calling him and hoping he would answer. And the worst part of it was just hearing the dial tone and being like, ‘Please God, answer the phone.’ And I called his dad and his dad told me that he passed away in a car accident… It was the most traumatic time of my life.”

Demi gets loud with Taylor’s mom, Liann
Hulu Demi Engemann has heated conversation with Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom, Liann May
Hulu

Demi Engemann has heated conversation with Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom, Liann May
The MomTokers are shocked when Taylor’s mom, Liann, crashes Demi’s Christmas party to deliver a gift and a message. Sitting down with Demi for a heated conversation, Liann says that they’ve treated Taylor badly as friends.

Demi cited Taylor’s online behavior — with her fans slamming MomTokers over their supposed lack of support for her CMA presenting gig — Liann claims Taylor was being “funny,” “catty” and “petty” with the video.

As the other women watch, Whitney approaches to try to support Demi. Liann suggests Demi wants to “be queen bee” and “be Taylor.”

“As a friend, you should go try to see, ‘What’s wrong with you, Taylor? What can I do to get you some help? What can I do to make your load less?’ ” Liann continues.

Demi tries to explain that Taylor isn’t there for others, and Liann says she can’t be. Demi tries to be understanding but says it’s been this way for three years. Whitney agrees that Taylor “never has” reciprocated friendship.

“I get it, Liann is Taylor’s mom. She wants to stand up for Taylor. But I’m just like, ‘Why are you enabling this behavior? Why do you think we’re in the wrong right now? Why isn’t your daughter in the wrong? How can you not see that?’ ” Whitney says in a confessional.

Liann cries and tells them Taylor is “a great person and the one that brought you guys all together, whether you think so or not.”

Vanderpump Villa’s Maricano isn’t linked to the MomToker you think
Hulu Marciano reveals alleged affair to Layla
Hulu

Marciano reveals alleged affair to Layla
In the final moments of the last episode, Layla Taylor meets with Marciano Brunette, a Vanderpump Villa cast member, to set the record straight about his alleged involvement with Demi.

While Marciano confirmed that he tried to kiss Demi, he maintained nothing happened between the two. Then he claimed that such was not the case between him and Jessi.

Addressing rumors she was seen making out with Marciano at TomTom in West Hollywood, Calif., Jessi said it wasn’t true. Marciano upped the ante, however, telling Layla the two did more than just kiss.

He said they were still in contact and trying to meet up and that Jessi’s husband doesn’t know “the truth about how extensive it was.”

Layla then asked if they had sex, and Marciano nodded. Teasing more episodes to come, scenes show Jessi denying the allegation and her husband, Jordan, blaming the rumor on Demi.

Read the original article on People

Rate this post