Chase McWhorter, a cast member of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, attempted to make light of recent romantic entanglements on Saturday, March 28, posting a tongue-in-cheek Instagram video that drew swift criticism from within his social circle.
The 30-year-old reality television personality shared a video set to the song "Seasons" by ZoHendrix, staring at his hands as the lyric "I've got the magic in me" played. McWhorter tagged the post with "IYKYK," internet shorthand for "if you know, you know," referencing recent reports of a kiss with castmate Jessi Draper at a party.
The incident has created tension within the MomTok community, particularly given that Draper, 33, is a friend and costar of McWhorter's ex-wife, Miranda Hope. The former couple was married from 2017 to 2024 and shares two children: son Brooks, 6, and daughter Cohen, 4.
According to reports published Thursday, March 26, McWhorter and Draper kissed at a party. A source characterized the interaction as lighthearted, stating they "were having fun at a party and it's not serious between them." Draper is currently navigating a contentious divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura.
McWhorter's humorous take on the situation did not resonate with everyone in his orbit. Layla Taylor, who briefly dated McWhorter following his divorce, responded to his video with "girl shut your mouth." Bronwyn Newport of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City issued her own warning, writing that McWhorter should "stop playing with those girls I love before I bring myself down past point of the mountain."
Miranda Hope, 27, addressed the situation in a statement to Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, clarifying that she was aware of communication between her ex-husband and Draper "but not to what extent." She explained that McWhorter informed her directly about the kiss, while Draper reached out only after learning that McWhorter had already disclosed the information.
Hope emphasized that while she maintains no emotional attachment to her former spouse, she feels "disrespected by Chase" and "slighted by my friend." She noted that she holds both her coparent and her friends to high standards, adding that she "believe[s] in girl code."
In the aftermath of the revelation, Draper sent Hope a bouquet of flowers with an apologetic note. The message read, in part, "I completely understand you being upset with me. But wanted to send you a little something to let you know I'm thinking about you and I am so so sorry."
The situation escalated further when Draper's estranged husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, 31, commented on a TikTok video posted by Hope. In a since-deleted remark, Ngatikaura wrote, "Looks like she can't even be faithful or loyal even in a friendship... too bad." McWhorter responded, "Back to LinkedIn u go."
Even McWhorter's sister, Aysia McWhorter, weighed in on the drama, joking that "every day there's something new" within their friend group. She questioned how her brother has "pulled all of the Mormon Wives," adding, "I love you Chase, but it's getting a little bit hard to defend you." In a caption, she quipped, "Utah can't be this small @chase! What are they feeding you?"
The incident highlights the complex interpersonal dynamics within reality television cast circles, where personal relationships and professional obligations frequently intersect. As the situation continues to unfold across social media platforms, it remains to be seen whether the friendships within the MomTok community will weather this latest controversy.