“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is returning for a second season with some changes, including a new cast member.
Hulu confirmed to TODAY.com that Miranda McWhorter would be joining the reality series’ cast.
McWhorter’s name comes up in the first trailer for “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 2 – specifically, in relation to the #MomTok swinging scandal.
The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment occurrs halfway through the 30-second clip when a member of the #MomTok group asks, “Is that Miranda?”
Another replies, “Wait, that’s the girl that was swinging with Taylor.”
The camera then pans to a blond woman wearing a white tank top, black shorts and cowboy hat. The same woman then appeared in a photo with cast member Taylor Frankie Paul.
During Season 1 of the popular Hulu series, cast members spoke about the sex scandal that shook their friendship group, and TikTok presences, up in 2022.
Not much is known about McWhorter’s role in Season 2, but she’s spoken about her involvement in the scandal. Here’s everything you need to know about the TikToker.
What was her involvement in the Mormon #MomTok swinging scandal?
In 2022, #MomTok influencer Paul revealed that she and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, took part in “soft swinging,” a form of ethical non-monogamy, with friends.
Paul, a member of the Mormon #MomTok community, shared details in a TikTok live. The original video is no longer available, though copies continue to circulate.
“Soft swinging is when you do other things but you don’t go all the way,” she said in her Tiktok Live in May 2022. “That’s what happened with us.”
Paul said she had violated the agreement she’d made with her now ex-husband.
“The agreement was … as long as we were both there and we saw it and we knew it, it was OK, and the second it goes behind without each other, you’ve stepped out of the agreement,” she said in the video. “And I did that.”
Her role in the #MomTok soft swinging scandal, explained
After Paul’s video went viral, #MomTok fans speculated about which of her friends may have also taken part in soft swinging.
At first, Miranda McWhorter and her now ex-husband Chase McWhorter denied being part of the group.
But in September 2024, Chase McWhorter spoke to Us Weekly and confirmed that he and his ex-wife were, indeed, involved with the soft swinging group. He said it’s easier to speak about now since he’s no longer involved in the Mormon church.
“That was the sole reason I was embarrassed to be a part of the first place was the optics,” he said.
Chase McWhorter said the swinger parties he and his ex-wife attended started during the pandemic.
“(It was) a bunch of our friends coming — couples — and then we’d all get trashed on alcohol and then, like, these games would come up,” he said. “Spin the bottle or whatever.”
Chase McWhorter said that he and his ex-wife were often “there participating in some of the party games.”
“It was never predetermined that we were going to be doing, like, swinging. That’s what we always thought was a little bit misrepresented in Taylor’s story, as she presents it,” he said.
Miranda McWhorter sat down for an interview with Josie Van Dyke for her “Weekly Trash” podcast in August 2024 and spoke about the scandal.
“The whole world thought you were full on swinging, which you weren’t,” Van Dyke Began.
“Right,” Miranda McWhorter replied.
Miranda and Chase McWhorter announced their divorce in 2024
Miranda and Chase McWhorter announced that they were getting divorced in 2024.
While speaking with Van Dyke last summer, Miranda McWhorter said she and her ex-husband had marital issues before the soft swinging scandal erupted.
“It’s safe to say that whole thing was not easy (and) isn’t going to be easy on a relationship. But again, the reasons why we decided to split was for things that were issues long before that,” she said. “That might have not helped for sure, but it definitely did not play a part in the decision-making process.
Miranda McWhorter is a mom of 2
Miranda and Chase McWhorter welcomed their first child, a son named Brooks, in 2019.
Two years later, the couple welcomed a baby girl named Cohen in 2021.
The influencer told Van Dyke she and her ex are on cordial terms and are committed to co-parenting together.
Miranda McWhorter had the chance to appear on Season 1 of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
Miranda McWhorter told Van Dyke that Hulu approached her about possibly appearing on Season 1 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” but said the opportunity “just didn’t feel right.”
The influencer said she was wary of opening up herself to the public eye after the #MomTok scandal broke.
“I already got exploited on the internet without my consent. You think I’m going to ask for that?” she said.
She’s on good terms with a lot of the #MomTok crew
Just because she didn’t appear on Season 1 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” doesn’t mean Miranda McWhorter hasn’t stayed on good terms with the cast.
At the time she recorded a podcast episode with Van Dyke in August 2024, the influencer said she had recently run into Paul.
“We chatted for 20 to 30 minutes and caught up and I met her new baby. And I’m super happy for her. She seems to be doing great,” she said.
Miranda McWhorter also said she was on good terms with other #MomTok influencers.
“The tensions have died down and I’m in such a different place in my life physically, mentally, just totally different. And I also think holding grudges really is only going to hurt yourself more than it’s going to hurt anyone else,” she said. “I’m happy for everyone’s success and there’s no hard feelings at this point. I’m happy everyone’s been able to move on.”
She’s open to remarrying and having more kids
These days, Miranda McWhorter is living in Utah and co-parenting with her ex-husband.
The influencer started dating her landlord, Jake Baum, after getting divorced in 2024.
While speaking with Van Dyke, she opened up about the possibility of settling down again one day.