The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor talked about finding love with her boyfriend Mason McWhorter while juggling a difficult co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband.
Before Hulu released season 3 of the show on Thursday, November 13, Layla, 24, spoke exclusively with Us every week about his thoughts on remarrying.
“[I am taking it] day after day. Marriage scares me right now,” she admitted. “But I think it’s because I’m so jaded by my ex-husband and this marriage.”
Layla noted that she “still struggles with a toxic co-parenting relationship” with her ex-husband. Clayton Wessel “to this day”.
“Right now I’m a little scared about marriage, but I just want to get to know someone well before I even think about it,” she explained. “I’m just happy and content with where Mason and I are. And if that ever happens, then we’ll see.”
Viewers got a glimpse of the new man in Layla’s life when cameras returned to the hit reality series. To some fans, Mason may seem familiar given that he is the brother of Layla’s ex. Chase McWhorter.
“We laugh about it. I know it’s not the most ideal situation, hanging out with brothers, but sometimes life gives you lemons,” Layla explained of the connection. “Just make lemonade and that’s what it is. It sometimes creates funny and awkward situations. But we take it lightly because there’s no way around it.”
Layla was grateful to have Mason back at that moment.
“We’re still together. Things are going really well. I’m really happy,” she said. “He’s just my best friend. I feel like he and I get along really well. We have a lot of similarities and our relationship feels very natural and not forced. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not with him.”
After leaving the Mormon church, Layla said We she’s on the same page with Mason about their values, adding, “Luckily for me, he’s no longer active. We’re aligned on that. We both have a Mormon upbringing but we’re not part of — more of an active member of the church.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in September 2024, introduced We to a group of Mormon mom influencers in Utah. Although most tune in to the drama, viewers have since returned season after season to check out the cast.
Layla’s personal life was further explored in season 3 as she navigated life as a black woman in Utah, which is predominantly white. Off-screen, Layla is a devoted mother to her sons, Ollie, 4, and Maxwell, 3, whom she prefers not to appear on the show.
“That’s the one thing their dad and I agree on is that we want to keep them away from this world and protect them. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to show your kids. I think some of the women on the show do it and I think it’s amazing,” she told Us. “Whatever you’re comfortable with. But personally, I can’t control who watches things. I can’t control what people do with the content I share and that scares me.”
For some couples on The Secret Life of Mormon Wives, being on a reality TV show strengthened their marriage, while others crumbled under the pressure. When Hulu launched The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and her husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and her husband Bret Engemann, Whitney. […]
Layla continued, “I feel like we live in a very strange and disgusting world sometimes. Some people are just…they don’t have a clear mind. I just feel like I want to protect them and me and their dad always agree on that, which is good. But our relationship is difficult.”
The reality TV star acknowledged “bitter feelings on his part” towards her.
“I just have to remind myself that every day – when we have another argument or something – that over time, it’s going to get better. Because I know what it’s like to have parents who don’t love each other,” she continued. “They were my parents growing up and it affected me a lot. That’s what I try to remind him [of] every day. I’m like, ‘Hey, I know it’s hard and I know sometimes you don’t want to talk to me.’ But I know what it’s like to see parents unable to get along with their children. So we have to understand this. So one day I hope [we get to a better place].”
Layla had similar hopeful outlooks before Season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“I just wanted to be more vocal in Season 3. I feel like in Season 1 and Season 2, the audience could definitely see that there were times where I couldn’t speak when I was in certain situations. I was definitely a lot more reserved,” she recalled. “My goal going into Season 3 was to speak my mind, stand up for myself more, and just be more authentic to who I am as a person. I feel like I portrayed that really well this season, and I’m proud of myself.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently streaming on Hulu.
