Chase McWhorter has expressed hope that production on the fifth season of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ will eventually resume, after previously being paused amid a domestic violence investigation involving cast member Taylor Frankie Paul. In a forthcoming episode of Harry Jowsey’s podcast, Boyfriend Material, which is set to air on April 7, McWhorter talked openly about his recent personal controversies, including a kiss he shared with fellow cast member Jessi Draper.
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In an exclusive preview of the podcast episode shared with PEOPLE, McWhorter revealed that filming for the show has been on hold since March. The situation arose in the wake of legal issues concerning Paul and her ex-husband Dakota Mortensen. “I think that’s kind of up in the air at this point,” he stated regarding the future of filming. “Hoping they do. All the other women have a bunch of great stories and storylines that haven’t been told. I think that’s a great thing they could look into. So I think they should, but we’ll see.”
The controversy surrounding McWhorter doesn’t end with the production delay. Recently, he clarified details about his kiss with Jessi Draper after reports about their interaction circulated widely. “We just kissed at a party, had a few drinks, nothing crazy. People turned it into something it wasn’t,” McWhorter explained, adding that he finds himself “in trouble” due to the media frenzy. Jowsey jokingly suggested that trouble suited him, to which McWhorter responded, “Back in familiar territory.”
On the subject of Jessi, McWhorter mentioned that their friendship stems from his desire to support her during her own challenging situation—her divorce from estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura. The divorce proceedings have been tumultuous, with Ngatikaura filing for divorce on March 19, shortly followed by a restraining order against Jessi.
Despite this dramatic backdrop, McWhorter insisted that his relationship with Jessi remains platonic. “We’re just friends,” he affirmed, acknowledging the repercussions his actions had on his ex-wife, Miranda McWhorter. “I learned my lesson on that. It wasn’t cool to Miranda. Obviously, got in trouble there. She deserves a lot better,” he added.
Miranda announced her separation from Chase in August 2024, and the couple share two young children. Following the revelations about Chase’s kiss with Jessi, Miranda appeared to address the situation on her own social media. In an Instagram Story shared on March 27, she posted a photo of a bouquet from Jessi, which included a note expressing remorse for the kiss: “I completely understand you being upset with me but wanted to send you a little something to let you know I’m thinking about you and I am so, so sorry.”
Later, she took to Instagram again to share her feelings regarding the unfolding events. In a Reel captioned, “GRWM while I process my friend group being a waiting room for my ex-husband,” she expressed a blend of humour and hurt, remarking that such betrayals had become almost customary, stating, “it’s not even a betrayal at this point, it’s a tradition.”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Miranda elaborated more on her feelings about the situation. “I knew there had been communication between Chase and Jessi but not to what extent,” she said. She acknowledged that Chase had been upfront about their kiss but felt let down by both him and Jessi. “What I never want to get misconstrued is that there is not any emotional attachment to Chase. He is my co-parent. Although I do feel disrespected by Chase, I feel slighted by my friend. Chase and I are no longer partners, and while I have a high expectation of him as a co-parent, I also hold my friends to a high standard and believe in girl code.”
The unfolding drama has left fans speculating about the relationship dynamics within the show’s cast. Chase has previously been linked to other members of the social media sphere, known as MomTok, causing ripples within the friend group. Notably, he had a brief romance with Layla Taylor, who later formed a close friendship with Miranda, and also had involvement with Taylor Frankie Paul during a past scandal.
As the cast awaits news on the future of the show, the fallout from Chase and Jessi’s actions continues to fuel public discussions across social media, further complicating an already intricate web of relationships within the ensemble. As they navigate these personal and professional challenges, it remains uncertain how their stories will unfold on screen and beyond.