Mormon Wives’ Star Shares Candid Thoughts on Costar’s Affair

In a recent, candid interview with Us Weekly, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Layla Taylor didn’t hold back her thoughts on cast mate Jessi Ngatikaura’s affair with Marciano Brunette. The 24-year-old Taylor expressed bewilderment at Jessi’s choice, stating bluntly, “I think that man is yucky. There’s a lot of men we could have chosen for her—there’s just a lot of options out there.” Despite her disapproval of Marciano, Layla showed understanding for Jessi’s emotional state at the time, suggesting that her friend was seeking validation during a vulnerable period in her life. “Jessi always told us it’s not about who it was. She was in the wrong place and wrong time,” Layla explained, adding with characteristic frankness that she wished “it was someone more attractive and less gross” than Marciano, whom she mockingly referred to as needing medication for performance issues.

The show’s drama intensified in its second season with rumors of infidelity swirling around multiple cast members. Initially, Demi Engemann faced accusations of inappropriate closeness with Marciano while filming “Vanderpump Villa,” despite being married to Bret Engemann. Though Demi denied these allegations, the spotlight eventually shifted to Jessi’s relationship with Marciano. In her own interview ahead of the season 3 premiere, Jessi clarified the nature of her affair, saying, “I wouldn’t say I was in love with him. It only lasted about two weeks so it was quick.” She revealed that Marciano had become someone she confided in about her marital troubles, something she had previously kept private even from close friends and family. The emotional connection formed when Jessi felt particularly vulnerable in her marriage to Jordan Ngatikaura, whom she described as frequently putting her down.

Jessi’s account of the affair centered around the emotional support she received from Marciano during a difficult time in her marriage. “I did feel a connection to him in that sense because he was there for me and he made me feel special,” she explained, contrasting Marciano’s compliments with how her husband allegedly treated her. “Jordan would put me down a lot. Marciano told me how pretty and cool and fun I was. I felt like there was a connection there because he was giving me something I was lacking.” The affair came to an abrupt end when Jordan discovered their communications by going through Jessi’s phone. Rather than viewing this as catastrophic, Jessi called it “a blessing in disguise” that forced the situation to resolve itself, as she “did not want to carry this on for months or years” but “didn’t know how to get out of it” on her own.

Layla stood firmly by her friend’s account of the affair, believing that physical intimacy had been limited. “I don’t think anything more happened than a kiss,” she stated, reasoning that since Jessi was already facing the consequences of infidelity, there would be no logical reason to downplay other details. More significantly, Layla shared her perspective on Jessi and Jordan’s relationship dynamic, which she now viewed in a new light. “I feel like Jordan has always said things very abruptly. But Jessi always dismissed it. We’ve always brushed it off,” she reflected. With fuller context about their marriage, Layla recognized that what she had witnessed wasn’t merely occasional insensitive comments but rather constituted a pattern of “emotional abuse,” which she found “heartbreaking” to realize in retrospect.

The revelation about Jessi’s marriage clearly affected Layla deeply, bringing out her protective instincts toward her friend. “It’s a really hard situation because seeing one of your friends get treated poorly is heartbreaking,” she shared with genuine concern. “I love Jessi and I think Jessi deserves the absolute world. When she loves people, she loves really hard. That’s also why it’s hard for her in her marriage right now.” Throughout the interview, Layla demonstrated the complexity of supporting someone through both an affair and a troubled marriage, balancing disapproval of the infidelity with empathy for the circumstances that contributed to it. Her ultimate wish was simple but profound: “I just want Jessi to be happy.”

Beyond discussing her friend’s situation, Layla also shared personal growth that viewers can expect to see in the show’s third season. “I just wanted to be more vocal in season 3,” she explained, acknowledging that in previous seasons, audiences could see moments where she struggled to speak up. “I feel like season 1 and season 2, the audience could definitely see that there’s times that I couldn’t speak up when I was in certain situations. I was definitely a lot more reserved.” Her goal for the new season reflected a commitment to authenticity and self-assertion: “My goal going into season 3 was to say what’s on my mind, stand up for myself more and just be more authentic to who I am as a person.” With evident pride, Layla felt she had succeeded in this personal evolution, showcasing a more genuine version of herself as “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” continues streaming on Hulu.