The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast is just as confused by what did — and didn’t — make the cut for the season 3 reunion.
Hulu released the one-hour special on Thursday, December 4, during which Jessi Ngatikaura discussed her affair with Marciano Brunette, Demi Engemann denied cheating on husband Bret Engemann (also with Marciano) and Dakota Mortensen defended himself after sexting with Taylor Frankie Paul‘s family friend.
Viewers, however, quickly took to social media to express their frustration with what wasn’t covered at the reunion and how certain cast members got more attention than others. Other fans questioned how much the Dunkin Donuts product placement was highlighted.
Host Stassi Schroeder was first to think that there was more that got cut, writing via Instagram, “I wish you could’ve seen the other 11 hours.”
Meanwhile, Jen Affleck’s husband, Zac Affleck, replied via TikTok about the edit.
“We filmed 13 hours,” he noted. “Trust us we are equally confused on it and what did and didn’t make it.”
This season’s reunion’s changes began with the host. Stassi, 37, took over for Nick Viall.
During the season 2 reunion, Nick, 45, received backlash for the way he directed his questions toward Whitney Leavitt about her friendship with Demi, 30, multiple times throughout the July special. He also asked Whitney, 32, if she thought she was “better than” Taylor, 31, at taking accountability.
“No, I don’t think that I’m the one to judge that,” she said, as Nick fired back, “I’m not asking you to judge it. I’m asking you what you think.”
Whitney clarified that she and Taylor are “equal” in that. “Equally good or equally bad?” Nick asked.
In response, Nick took a poll asking who thought Whitney was good at taking accountability, which resulted in almost no support for her.
“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 Matthews] is someone who constantly belittles me and hurts me. So, is she justified in her feelings to treat me that way?”
Whitney acknowledged at the reunion that she felt called out” by Nick “constantly.”
“Personally, I feel like I’ve heard Taylor taking accountability for a lot of things. She does a lot of things too,” Nick replied. “I don’t think I’ve heard you take accountability from what I’ve seen.”
Nick subsequently stood by how he spoke to Whitney. “We are up-front that we are fans of the show. So, as the host, I tried to have that balance between obviously being host and being objective,” he explained on the “Viall Files” podcast. “I was also making sure everything was addressed.”
While acknowledging the awkward tension between him and Whitney, Nick has a different view of their conversation.
“I was a bit surprised when Whitney did not like my line of questioning,” he shared. “When it comes to the past two seasons, I think the perceived lack of accountability of Whitney is something that I wanted to have a chance to address with her.”
Nick continued: “Whitney is one of my favorite characters — other than Taylor is probably one of the most irreplaceable people on the cast. She’s one of my favorites.”
Before the season 3 reunion premiered, Nick confirmed his exit as the host due to his upcoming Netflix dating show Age of Attraction, which created a conflict. The Thursday special showed Zac’s wife, Jen, praising Stassi for taking over.
“I am so glad it is you because I know you are totally unbiased,” Jen told Stassi, who replied, “Thank you! Well, I have been in your shoes!”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently streaming on Hulu.
