TW: This article mentions suicide, self-harm, and childhood sexual abuse.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives recently held its first-ever reunion. And boy, did fans need it! Bachelor alum Nick Viall hosted the event with dirty sodas at the ready. After a drama-filled Season 2, there was a lot to revisit. After all, Demi Engemann tried to kick MomTok creator Taylor Frankie Paul out of the group. However, when she failed, Demi herself stepped away.
Meanwhile, Taylor split from baby daddy Dakota Mortensen. Then, Jessi Ngatikaura and Demi feuded after it was revealed that Demi told Taylor not to go to Jessi’s salon.
Plus, after some of the ladies went to Italy to film a stay at Vanderpump Villa, server Marciano Brunette and Demi became friendly. And at the end of Season 2, Marciano told Layla Taylor that he had an affair with Jessi. Since both Demi and Jessi are married, that amped up the chaos.
While there were some light-hearted moments at the reunion, Nick also addressed topics such as depression, suicidal ideation, and childhood sexual abuse. It was a lot to balance. So, was Nick the right host for the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion?
Nick Viall asked the tough questions as the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion host
Nick, who hosts The Viall Files podcast, wasn’t afraid to put these Mormon moms in the hot seat. And some of the cast members handled the pressure better than others. He confronted Dakota about his cheating and lying to Taylor. And Nick stated that if Taylor and Dakota weren’t going to get back together, one of them had to pull the plug on their physical relationship. It was obvious that the couple cared about each other, but their trauma was too deep.
Meanwhile, he asked Whitney Leavitt about the racy NSFW texts between Marciano and Demi that Jessi revealed. My pearls were firmly clutched at that moment. Of course, Demi skipped the reunion in favor of a family trip. I wonder why?
And Nick also asked Mikayla Matthews why she had such resentment towards Whitney. When Whitney was voted back into MomTok, Mikayla was a firm no. And there is a great deal of tension between these two moms.
Finally, Nick asked Jessi some questions about her marriage to Jordan Ngatikaura. Since the rumors about Jessi’s alleged infidelity with Marciano surfaced, she has admitted that she and Jordan are going through a rough patch. She also wasn’t wearing her wedding ring, which Nick pointed out.
Of course, Jessi couldn’t say much because Season 3 is filming, but it looks like she and Jordan are not in a good place. Overall, Nick is no shrinking violet. He asked some difficult questions, and he persisted in trying to get answers.
Nick has faced some criticism for his SLOMW reunion hosting
Naturally, not everyone was a fan of Nick’s hosting style. His vibe was sort of like a therapy session, which may have turned off some viewers. One SLOMW cast member who was definitely not a fan was Whitney. She felt like Nick was extra hard on her. For instance, Nick asked Whitney if Taylor was “better at taking accountability” than Demi. Whitney responded, “Yes and no.”
Following up, Nick asked Whitney if she felt that she was better at taking accountability than her former friend, Taylor. “No, I don’t think that I’m the one to judge that,” Whitney said.
Nick responded, “I’m not asking you to judge it. I’m asking you what you think.” So, Nick took a quick poll that showed most of the cast believed that Taylor was good at taking responsibility. As for Whitney? Only Miranda McWhorter raised her hand.
Of course, Whitney wasn’t happy. “It’s so double standard. You just sat here and asked me, ‘Do you feel like you justify your actions based off of your feelings?’” Whitney told Nick. “Well, [Mikayla] is someone who constantly belittles me and hurts me. So is she justified in her feelings to treat me that way?”
In addition, Whitney asserted that she was “being called out” by Nick. The host denied that, stating, “Personally, I feel like I’ve heard Taylor taking accountability for a lot of things. She does a lot of things, too.” He added, “I don’t think I’ve heard you take accountability from what I’ve seen.”
Some fans on Reddit also weren’t thrilled with Nick’s hosting performance. One user wrote, “Nick was horrible. Felt like the whole thing was so dragged out. He was monotone, giving opinions, and seemed bored at times. We need Andy [Cohen]!!”
Overall, Nick handled the Mormon Wives reunion with empathy and understanding
There were some serious topics discussed at the reunion. In a confessional from the show, Whitney’s husband, Conner Leavitt, discussed his porn addiction and how he was sexually abused as a child. During the reunion, he shared his thoughts and offered hope to others. It was an emotional moment, and Nick thanked Conner for his “bravery.” Several cast members cried during Conner’s remarks.
Then, Jen Affleck addressed the depression that she experienced early in her pregnancy. “I dealt with something that a lot of pregnant women deal with, which is prenatal depression,” she stated. “I dealt with a lot of suicide ideation … That was definitely one of the hardest times of [my] life.” In fact, Jen ceased filming Season 2 for the sake of her baby and her mental health. Once again, Nick was understanding and sensitive while discussing such a difficult topic.
Finally, Layla shared how she has battled anxiety and depression, self-harming, and previously attempted to take her own life. Nick was empathetic and respectful while Layla shared her struggles. Thankfully, both Jen and Layla are doing much better now.
I think that Nick was the right host for the reunion. He was friendly and funny at times, yet managed to get viewers some answers. Plus, he was sensitive and respectful when cast members discussed delicate topics.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988. Or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to stream on Hulu. This series is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK.
TELL US – WAS NICK VIALL THE RIGHT HOST FOR THE SECRET LIVES OF MORMON WIVES SEASON 2 REUNION?
