The cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives gathered for their Season 3 reunion, but the one-hour special that aired on Hulu on December 4, 2025, left many viewers and even the participants confused. Filmed over a marathon 13-hour session, the edited show focused on rehashing old drama without providing new answers or resolving major conflicts. Central to the episode were heated arguments between Demi Engemann, her husband Bret Engemann, and Jen Affleck, which spilled over from backstage and highlighted ongoing tensions within the group.
The Core Conflict: Demi Engemann and the Marciano Allegations
A major point of contention throughout Season 3 involved allegations surrounding Marciano Brunette, a cast member from Vanderpump Villa. Both Demi Engemann and Jessi Ngatikaura were accused of having inappropriate connections with him.
On the reunion stage, Demi firmly denied any affair. She maintained that Marciano subjected her to “unwanted touch”. Her husband, Bret Engemann, defended her, expressing frustration that people were quick to doubt her claims.
“The biggest problem I think I have with everybody is the knee jerk reaction to Demi saying that she was a victim was to not believe her,” Bret stated during the reunion.
However, Jen Affleck challenged this narrative. While Jen admitted she did not personally witness a kiss between Demi and Marciano, she claimed she saw other flirtatious behavior that suggested it could have happened. This disagreement over what truly occurred off-camera became a flashpoint.
Backstage Drama Spills Into the Spotlight
The tension between the couples was not confined to the main stage. Before the formal taping even began, a significant argument erupted backstage among the husbands.
Zac Affleck (Jen’s husband) confronted Bret Engemann about the situation with Marciano. Zac suggested the Engemanns live in a “different universe” regarding their perception of events. The exchange turned personal and heated.
“People just talk s–t behind your back because you’re a s—ty person,” Zac said to Bret.
Bret retorted, “The feeling’s mutual dips–t. It’s hard to take you seriously with your munchkin voice”.
This backstage clash set a confrontational tone. When the two couples later faced each other on stage, their unresolved issues led to a screaming match that host Stassi Schroeder struggled to control. The argument ended without a resolution, leaving the central question of what happened with Marciano unanswered for viewers.
A Change in Host and a Critical Fan Response
The Season 3 reunion introduced a new host, Stassi Schroeder, from Vanderpump Rules. She took over from Nick Viall, who hosted the Season 2 reunion but left due to a scheduling conflict with his Netflix dating show.
Jen Affleck welcomed the change, telling Stassi, “I am so glad it is you because I know you are totally unbiased”. However, some critics and fans felt Stassi was unable to effectively manage the heated cast or push for accountability. The reunion was widely criticized for feeling rushed and unsatisfying.
Many fans took to social media to express disappointment that major off-camera developments were not addressed. These included Taylor Frankie Paul being cast as the next Bachelorette, the ongoing “Fruity Pebbles” drama from Season 1, and Jen and Whitney Leavitt’s experiences on Dancing with the Stars. Because the reunion was filmed months before it aired—likely between August and November 2025—it was already outdated by the time fans saw it.
Other Key Moments from the Reunion Special
While the clash between Demi, Jen, and their husbands was a focal point, other cast members had significant moments during the special.
Jessi Ngatikaura addressed her emotional affair with Marciano Brunette in more detail. The reunion showed a never-before-seen phone call where Marciano claimed they had sex, which Jessi denied, admitting only to kissing twice. The conversation also revealed that Jessi had told Marciano she planned to leave her husband, though she clarified it was not specifically for him.
Several cast members shared deeply personal stories of past trauma. Jessi revealed she was raped at age 19, a realization that came up during therapy as she worked through marital issues. Mikayla Matthews also discussed how childhood sexual abuse has impacted her marriage, a conversation that moved others, including Conner Leavitt, to tears.
The reunion featured a dramatic confrontation involving Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. Dakota, who had sent explicit messages to a friend of Taylor’s family, asked for the women to leave the stage so he could tell his side. Taylor returned to challenge his account, and her parents, Liann and Jeremy May, were brought out. They rejected Dakota’s apology.
“I can’t accept anything that comes out of your mouth because it’s all bulls–t,” Taylor’s father, Jeremy, told Dakota.
Dakota eventually stormed off the set.
On a lighter note, Layla Taylor confirmed she is now officially dating Mason McWhorter, the brother of her ex, Chase McWhorter.
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Where to Watch and What’s Next
All three seasons of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including the reunion specials, are available to stream exclusively on Hulu. A subscription starts at $9.99 per month with ads or $18.99 without ads.
Filming for Season 4 is already underway. Based on the show’s recent release pattern, with a six-month gap between Seasons 2 and 3, fans can speculate that Season 4 could arrive as early as May 2026. The rapid, back-to-back filming schedule is a key reason the reunions feel out-of-date, as off-camera life moves faster than the show can capture.
