‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast react to the ‘wild’ backlash to the show’s trailer and title

Lisa Respers France, CNN

(CNN) — What’s to opportunity astir a show featuring Mormon mom TikTok influencers, a activity ungraded and Ben Affleck’s cousin? Plenty.

Buckle successful for “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which debuts Friday connected Hulu. The bid follows existent and erstwhile members of nan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) embroiled successful play complete intoxicant use, unwed pregnancies, antheral portion shows and partner-swapping.

It each starts pinch influencer Taylor Frankie Paul, who is credited pinch forming “MomTok,” by pulling together a group of chap Mormon mothers connected TikTok. Many of nan members person millions of followers, sharing glimpses of their lives for lucrative sponsorships.

RELATED | Cast members of arguable ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ inquire viewers to springiness show a chance

Paul caused a ungraded successful 2022, erstwhile she announced that she was getting divided aft she said she violated nan position of her unfastened marriage. She besides shared that she and her now ex-husband had participated successful “soft swinging” pinch different couples successful their Utah community, which progressive trading intersexual partners successful their societal circle.

The storyline of nan show heaviy involves nan fallout from Paul’s revelation, arsenic good arsenic her consequent gestation pinch fellow Dakota Mortensen, whom she became progressive pinch while married.

“I don’t regret wherever I americium correct now,” Paul told CNN of her narration choices. “I americium happy to beryllium wherever I am. But do I wish I had went astir things differenty? Absolutely.”

“I would person ne'er opened my narration and my marriage. I consciousness for illustration that was a disaster waiting to happen,” she added. “I deliberation announcing it to nan world, I wish that hadn’t had to hap arsenic well, but besides it sewage america wherever we are today.”

The play highlights a feud betwixt Paul and formed personnel Whitney Leavitt, who seems to beryllium aiming for Paul’s MomTok throne, arsenic nan women activity to repair friendships and unafraid their continued influencer work.

“I ne'er really felt a competitory quality pinch Taylor,” Leavitt told CNN. “I deliberation it was much truthful I missed getting together pinch each of nan girls and creating contented together. So I conscionable started readying contented days and past it turned into thing that wasn’t what it was.”

The past and coming LDS affiliation of nan women has sparked some contention and interest. While nan Church has not commented connected “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” directly, nan statement seemed to allude to it successful a connection connected their website nan aforesaid time a trailer for nan show debuted past month.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for illustration different salient world religion communities, often finds itself nan attraction of nan attraction of nan intermezo industry,” nan connection read. “Some portrayals are adjacent and accurate, but others edifice to stereotypes aliases gross misrepresentations that are successful mediocre sensation and person real-life consequences for group of faith. While this is not new, a number of caller productions picture lifestyles and practices blatantly inconsistent pinch nan teachings of nan Church.”

Cast memberJennifer Affleck, who is simply a distant relative of character and head Ben Affleck, told CNN she’s taking online disapproval to their portrayal successful stride.

“It’s astir apt bully that we’ve gotten a small spot of backlash [early] conscionable truthful we tin hole america for erstwhile nan existent worldly comes out,” Affleck said.

“There’s 8 episodes for group to springiness much backlash on,” her castmate Mikayla Matthews added. “I deliberation we are going to person to spell done it pinch each episode.”

Cast personnel Jessi Ngatikaura told CNN she understands nan mixed guidance fixed travel of nan blimpish teachings of nan LDS faith, but recovered nan uproar earlier nan bid moreover aired to beryllium “wild.”

“We knew nan title was going to get arguable opinions, but I really dream erstwhile group spot it they tin springiness it a 2nd chance and recognize it’s truthful overmuch much than a two-minute trailer and a name,” she said. “I’m ace proud of what we did…and I deliberation erstwhile they watch it, they’re going to recognize it’s a ace empowering show astir women and our struggles.”

The 8 episodes of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” are now streaming connected Hulu.