When Whitney Leavitt stepped away from the MomTok scene at the conclusion of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 1, her return was uncertain. During the initial 10 episodes filled with conflicts, exiting group discussions, and exposing her friends’ secrets (including the infamous Fruity Pebbles incident), Leavitt was cast as MomTok’s antagonist. Despite her estranged reputation, she surprised everyone by returning for Season 2, seeking redemption. In an unexpected twist, she formed a close bond with Demi Engemann, the very person who led the opposition against her in the first season.

Initially adored as a favorite by fans, Engemann has now taken over Leavitt’s role as the series’ antagonist. Issues over contract details, conflicts with Taylor Frankie Paul, and controversial interactions with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette have caused fans to question her motives. Attempting to pit MomTok members against Paul, Engemann ultimately parted ways with the show at the end of Season 2. Nevertheless, Leavitt, having reconciled with her past adversary, believes mistakes weren’t exclusive to Engemann this season.

“On shows like this, someone invariably ends up labeled as the villain. But honestly, in Season 2, everyone had their moments of villainy. I wouldn’t single out Demi as the sole villain,” she explained to DECIDER. Leavitt mentioned that Jen Affleck was “untruthful quite often in the beginning,” Paul made a “petty” gesture when co-stars neglected to publicly applaud her for her involvement at the Country Music Awards, and Mikayla Mathews displayed behavior that was “extremely rude” towards her throughout the season.

Leavitt, who recently wrapped filming the next season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, promised that “a lot of questions will be answered” in the next 10 episodes, which do not have a release date yet. “Every time there’s a new season, I hope somebody gets to see a different side of the person that they’re watching, or whoever they’re excited to watch, because it may seem like you’re seeing all of us, but you’re not,” she said.

When Leavitt stopped by our studio this week, she also defended putting her new Louis Vuitton purse on the ground in Times Square, shared why she didn’t take Paul’s side in the finale, and revealed which of her co-stars she’s on good terms with. Check out the full interview below.

---

DECIDER: I feel like we saw a different Whitney through a lot of Season 2. What was your mindset going into filming? 

WHITNEY LEAVITT: “I’m pregnant. Get this baby out of me.” I think that’s why I’m just so unbothered by it, because I’m not sleeping. After you give birth, your baby’s gonna get up a lot of times in the night. So, I was exhausted, I was unbothered, and I just wasn’t really focused on the drama. There were times on the girls’ trips I tried to be a little bit more present, but Season 2 was an exhausted Whitney, which I guess was good for me. Some redemption, I guess. We’ll see what happens Season 3!

Were you nervous to come back into the mix after leaving MomTok?

I left out of having a hard heart. I was very resentful with how things happened. And then coming back was a lot of conversation with Conner and, you know, if you care about these relationships, it’s probably just time to have some hard conversations that I didn’t want to have. And I did. And it was hard to obviously have and then to rewatch, to reopen the wound.

At this point in time – we know you’re tight with Demi – but who else are you good with? 

I feel like I’m good with everyone, honestly. At the end of the day, we’re co-workers so we kind of have to suck it up and show up to work, so I feel like I’m fine with everyone. I mean, it’s a business. It didn’t used to be, but that’s what it’s turned into. 

You posted a video the other day that went viral – and it was because you put your Louis Vuitton on the ground in Times Square. Were you surprised by all the traction that got?

I’m so sorry to the Louis lovers! I had no idea. But the show must go on. I had to take it down to finish shaking my ass. So, I’m sorry!

If they want to go viral on TikTok just put the Louis on the ground.

It’s so funny; every time I make a video I never know what people are gonna say. Like, I even did a dance one time and my shoes were on the counter and there was an uproar about it. But that had nothing to do with the reason why I made the video or the caption. I wanted the conversation to have with what I put on the video, not with me wearing my shoes on the counter, not with me putting the Louie on [the ground]. I’m under a microscope, I’m continuing to remind myself.

One big change this season was that opening credits scene, which was almost like a sexy baptism? As a self-proclaimed Saint in the group, what did you think of the new opening?

I mean, I feel like when I was filming it, that’s what was going on in my head. I’m like, “Oh, so this is a sexy baptism.” But nobody was fully dunked, which I guess kind of helps. It was fun. The water was warm. It’s a hot spring. There’s a lot of hot springs in Utah. Yeah, it was fun. Everyone looked amazing. 

I want to get into some of the drama. Early in the season, you said you could not be the villain again. Were you surprised that Demi ended up with that title this season? As her ally, are there any misconceptions you’d like to clear up? 

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. Like, for sure, for the viewers, to validate them, Demi, villain. But I mean, Jen lied a lot in the beginning. Taylor made her petty CMAs post. Everybody had little villainous moments. Mikayla was so incredibly rude to me. Everyone had their villainous moments and I think, unfortunately, Demi’s was just hyper-focused on. And yeah, it sucks, but she’s my girl. Everybody makes mistakes. I think if everyone had a camera with you every day and was only showing your bad moments, you’re gonna be the villain.

I know you can’t say too much, but do you see her maybe having a redemption arc?

I mean, I sure hope so. Every time there’s a new season I hope somebody gets to see a different side of the person that they’re watching, or whoever they’re excited to watch, because it may seem like you’re seeing all of us, but you’re not. You’re seeing a situation, a scenario, a little bit of this personality, a little bit of this character. I hope that every season you see a little bit of everyone. 

You caught a lot of flack for siding with Demi in the end even after Taylor defended you early on. Can you speak to that a bit?

There’s so much more behind that story. Again, like, you’re filming [for] hours. Like, this conversation, say that we were talking for hours, and then the show is only edited to two minutes. There’s so much more to that story that viewers didn’t get to see. So yeah, as a viewer, I’d be like, “Uh, what the hell?” But no, I still stand by the decision that I made. I think that there’s just more to the story.

It felt like it. Because I was like, “Wait, they were just fine. And now they’re not.” I feel like we missed something in between. So maybe we’ll find out more next season. 

Maybe. We’ll find out together!

One of my favorite scenes was when Conner told Taylor that she was enough. What was going through your mind at that moment?  

I loved that. Conner is the type of person where you could literally tell him anything and everything, and he’s going to respond in a way where you don’t feel shame, which is so nice. And it’s not just for me, it’s for anyone that he comes across, anyone that he meets. It’s such a great gift that he has, and I was just happy that he got to be vulnerable and relate with her on a different level. And obviously, it made him emotional, and me. But yeah, it was very sweet of him.

He seems like a really sweet guy. You kind of jumped into the conversation between Demi and Liann at the Christmas party. Do you think Demi was too hard on Liann? Or did Liann have it coming since she came to the party?

Again, there’s more context to that story. But yeah, it was pretty harsh. But I also think that Demi was caught off guard. Liann wasn’t invited to the party so she just showed up. I think if anyone just showed up to a party that you had, I mean, I got so much flack for showing up to Mikayla’s party. Liann did the same thing. She wasn’t invited to that party and she showed up on Taylor’s behalf. Honestly, if Taylor wanted to have that conversation, it should’ve been on Taylor to show up, in my opinion. But yeah, it was a hard conversation. But as soon as Santa came, I got to leave. 

It was the perfect way out of that conversation! Liann and her husband, they’ve all been getting quite a bit of backlash.

I mean, I love Liann. I love Taylor’s family. I think that it obviously was a really hard conversation, but I know that they mean well. Like, they just want what’s best for her. 

I want to talk a bit about the contract drama because apparently, Demi was willing to kick Jessi out of MomTok for a bigger paycheck this season.

Yeah, breaking the fourth wall. That was crazy.

Yeah! Would you say the show’s popularity, the money, the brand deals, etc. has changed personalities within the group? If so, how?

Oh, absolutely. I don’t know how it doesn’t. It should change. It should for good, and unfortunately, it will change for bad as well. I think that it’s great. Demi was like, “No, I’m worth this much.” Do I think she should have been like, “Well, if I get this, then I should kick this other person off?” No. And I know that she knows that now. I mean, go for it. It’s a business. It’s like, “Well, if I’m getting a promotion then I’m going to sit down with you and renegotiate this contract because I know my worth.” But the way she went about it was just — yeah. She knows. She gets it now. She’s learned. We’re all learning. It’s kind of cool because you’re seeing us learn in real time. We’re just figuring this out. 

The Jen and Zac stuff gets more interesting by the day. The other day, Brett wrote a comment claiming Jen sat in your living room begging Zac to go along with a fake separation narrative. Can you say anything about that? 

I’m gonna say that’s probably more of a question for Jen to answer than me. I think it should come from her.

What do you think about Marciano’s receipts that Demi had reached out to him first after he was fired from Vanderpump Villa? 

He’s annoying! He is so annoying. Oh my god, every time. He’s so annoying. I’ve never met him in person but I feel like if I did I’d be like, “I just can’t. Get me out of here.” He seems like he just loves the attention. I mean, I do too, but I think he goes about it the wrong way.

It’s also interesting because he ended the season with this big revelation that he had been hooking up with Jessi. But from what I’ve seen on social media, he’s only going after Demi.

I’m so excited for the next 10 [episodes] to come out because so many people have questions. It’s hard because in social media, that’s happening in real time. And then the show’s playing catch-up. But I’m excited because in the next 10, all of those questions are going to be answered.

Has it been hard for you guys to navigate talking about Season 2 while simultaneously filming Season 3 and not get it all mixed up?

It is so hard. It is hard. It’s like, “Wait, what conversation was this again?” And then it’s even more chaotic because then a season can come out and someone can say something where you’re like, “What the fuck?” And then we’ll rehash other drama. Like, it’s just a continuing, chaotic, entertaining show.

What do you think it will take for all of MomTok to survive?

We’re surviving, because what’s happening is we’re breaking down, shit happens, and then we’re just swimming right above water. We’re all getting on that life raft. Sometimes people may willingly jump, which was me, and I may jump again, you don’t know! But then somebody pulls you out, or you pull yourself back in. We’re continuing to survive. 

I genuinely think each one of you brings so much to the table. Even when someone does something wrong, I don’t hate them.

We’re human and I totally agree. I think every single person from this group, it’s like if we’re one big puzzle, every single person is a puzzle piece to make it perfect and beautiful and successful.

I feel like everyone has been watching this show. Has anyone famous slid into your DMs?

Girl! I won’t say DMs, but I’m mutuals with Amy Schumer on Instagram and that was a crazy moment. I responded to her story and she liked it and I about peed my pants. It was amazing. I was fangirling for sure. I’m like, keep it cool, keep it cool. 

I absolutely loved your Disney content. Was that the first time you’ve gone with all three kids? And what advice would you give parents planning their next trip?

That was the first with all three, yes. I mean, we’ve gone to Disney every single year, but I did the VIP experience. I’ve never done that before. I don’t know how anyone could ever go back if they’ve experienced that. Because you just walk on the rides. It’s amazing. And this person that chauffeurs you around Disneyland also helps you with your kids. I needed the bottle made. She was amazing. But that was my first time with all three, and I don’t know how we would have done it without the help. But it was amazing. 

Did anyone have any Disney meltdowns? That’s always my favorite thing to watch as a non-parent. 

Surprisingly no. But we usually do have a Disney meltdown. I think it’s just because we weren’t stressed. We got to walk on rides, the day was chill. And anyone can do that, by the way, have the VIP experience. 

I know you MomTokkers are always staying booked and busy. Aside from the show, are you working on any other projects you can talk about?

Ooh, nothing that I can say now. You’ll see. Some fun things are about to happen. 

I hope it’s Dancing with the Stars!

Girl, me too. I’d love to be on that show.

I know you guys are in the middle of filming Season 3 and we’ve covered a lot but is there anything else you can tease? 

I just think that everyone who’s looking forward to the next 10 is going to be able to breathe. I feel like the first half of Season 2 was so overwhelming, there was so much drama, and so I’m excited. Every single season I hope that we see, kind of like what I said before, a little bit of a different side of an individual, but also as MomTok. Because you’re watching us navigate this in real time. But yeah, I think a lot of questions will be answered in the second half. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 is currently streaming on Hulu.