Hulu Faces New Lawsuit Amid The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Shakeup

Published Nov 14, 2026, 4:21 PM EST Liz Declan is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant, primarily covering movies. She is a massive fan of Star Wars, the MCU, and Supernatural. In addition to writing, Liz loves attending and covering conventions and interviewing actors. Find her on TikTok and Instagram @va.va.vera This post contains references to domestic abuse. Hulu is in the hot seatafter a Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast memberaccused the show of defamation. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been making headlines repeatedly of late, many of them not all that positive. Although the show has been on the air for years now and has consistently drawn media attention for myriad scandals and updates on the cast, earlier this year, coverage of the show intensified following the March release of a video from 2023 depicting cast members and exes Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen in a domestic dispute that ultimately resulted in the police being called. The video release coincided with additional reports of altercations between the two and allegations made by both parties, with the former couple ultimately finding themselves in the midst of a custody battle over their young son, Ever. Since then, the internet has been flooded with think pieces, video commentaries, and a whole host of other reactions and opinions in various forms. Now, however, it seems Mortensen is turning his attention toward the show and, by extension, Hulu, in a new lawsuit alleging that the edits and framing of his behavior on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives were defamatory. According to Deadline, Mortensen has brought the lawsuit against Hulu in an effort to clear his name, following what he reportedly believes to be an edit that made him seem like a "domestic abuser" and "serial adulterer." Per the same article, the defamation suit states: By broadcasting fabricated statements, stage scenes presented as spontaneous fact, and portrayals constructed by deleting the footage that contradicted the known false narrative, defendants placed Mortensen before the public in a false light, as an abuser, a retaliator, and an adulterer, that false light would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. Mortensen will seek a jury trial when he brings his case, and not only Hulu but also Secret Lives of Mormon Wives producers Ludwig Productions and Jeff Jenkins Productions areimplicated in his claims. The lawsuit indicates that Mortensen is seeking more than $300,000 in damages; however, that number could change depending on the outcome of the case and what (if anything) Hulu, Ludwig Productions, and/or Jeff Jenkins Productions are found guilty of. Notably, though, defamation cases are notoriously tricky, as lawsuits like Mortensen's need to prove multiple layers of wrongdoing and harm, ranging from the defendant having knowingly said something false (or, in Mortensen's case, knowingly created a false depiction) to actual financial loss or other damages occurring as a result and more. No matter the outcome of Mortensen's case, which will likely not be known for quite some time, this latest update connected to the show adds to a long list of recent headlines. In addition to Paul and Mortensen's legal issues, that has included changes to the cast, with some of the original MomTok members dropping out to pursue other dreams, and, on the more positive side for Hulu, the debut of the brand-new iteration of the show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County only premiered a few days ago, so first reactions are still rolling in. However, in a period of relative upheaval for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and, by extension, Hulu, it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing if this new spin-off show debuted to a warm reception. Release Date September 6, 2024 Network Hulu Cast Whitney Leavitt Self - Host