“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Demi Engemann didn’t show up for the season 2 reunion, and her absence has fans talking. Speculation has swirled about her decision to skip the event, so Engemann took to social media to set the record straight. Here’s a closer look at why Engemann missed the reunion.
Demi Engemann’s Disneyland Dilemma
Demi Engemann/InstagramFans initially speculated that Engemann’s absence from the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” season 2 reunion was an attempt to dodge accountability for her controversial actions on the show. However, she clarified via Instagram that her absence was due to a family commitment.
“I was [invited],” she wrote. “It was short notice and the only day they could get the location secured was the day that me and my entire family did Disneyland.”
She went on, “We had already booked all of our flights and the Airbnb was nonrefundable or I would’ve moved the trip to be there. I tried to have production move it to another day and they couldn’t swing it sadly.”
Paycheck Drama and ‘Villain’ Editing
Engemann stirred controversy in season 2 when it was revealed that she was willing to let her friend Jessi Ngatikaura be fired to secure a higher salary. This move positioned her as the season’s “villain.” Addressing fan questions on TikTok, the 30-year-old clarified that she wasn’t alone in this strategy.
“Jen Affleck, Mikayla Matthews, and Mayci Neeley were also willing to ‘risk having people kicked off’ if it meant getting [paid] what we deserved,” she shared via the fan account, @stephwithdadeets.
Engemann emphasized that the group never intended for anyone, especially Ngatikaura, to be removed. And, she never actually believed they would “kick people off.” She described it as a bluff to negotiate better pay.
Demi Engemann Says Context Matters
The Hulu reality star suggested that the show’s editing “hyper-focused” on her actions, omitting context to amplify her villainous role. Engemann’s co-star Whitney Leavitt echoed this sentiment in a Decider interview, hinting that others shared responsibility but weren’t portrayed as negatively.
“In the show, naturally, someone’s going to be designated as the villain. But everyone in Season 2 had their villainous moments. Like, I wouldn’t even consider Demi to be just the villain,” Leavitt said.
Engemann noted that “the show wouldn’t be the show without everyone on Momtok.” That was something they were sure of after the success of season 1. But she acknowledges that someone had to be the designated villain.
Season 2 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is now playing on Hulu.
Tell us! Do you think editing was responsible for Demi Engemann’s portrayal as the villain in season 2 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
Demi Engemann Reveals the Real Reason She Skipped the SLOMW Season 2 Reunion