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Topics: Hulu, Reality TV, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Marissa Dow
Topics: Hulu, Reality TV, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
I think it’s fair to say The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives reunion’s biggest accomplishment was making me want season 3, like yesterday. That and taking Nick Viall semi-seriously. But there were some bombs dropped, and mostly thanks to Demi, even though the ~fan favorite~ wasn’t present. Kinda impressive! In a prerecorded clip (that was a not-so-subtle Viall Files plug), Demi had the group gagged when she said “we all are going through a lot,” but Jen’s absence due to her mental health felt possibly “performative.” It wasn’t the most heavenly look off the back of Jen confirming she was going through prenatal depression at the reunion.
But Jen, while disappointed, didn’t seem all that surprised because Jen’s beef with Demi runs hella deep. “She knew that I was gonna confront her about Italy,” Jen explained, and when Demi quickly learned Jen “was not on her side,” Jen believes Demi hatched a plan to control the narrative and save face for Brett. That’s why Demi pulled “chess” moves “four steps ahead” by coming for Jen as a liar during season 2, according to Jen. But before whacking Jen (and Zac) with the metaphorical stick, Demi apparently tried the carrot approach, and Jen told Nick Viall she had the “receipts” to prove it! Here’s a full breakdown of Demi and Jen’s secret phone call and cease and desist revealed on the SLOMW reunion.
Demi tried coaching Jen on what to say about the Marciano rumors during a 30-minute “gaslighting session” (at least that’s how Jen’s husband defines the interaction that he recorded for posterity). During filming, Demi dropped the doozy: “Jen, how dare you accuse me? I’m a victim!” about how Maricano allegedly treated her. After the scene wrapped, Brett and Demi called the Afflecks from the car, where Brett was recorded expressing concern over Demi using “the victim buzzword” because they suspected it wouldn’t play on TV.
During the secretly recorded chat, Demi tells Jen and Zac, “The takeaway in my opinion should be this….” Demi then goes on to instruct Jen on how to paint Demi and Brett’s marriage in a good light, applauding the Engemanns’ “different” but valid marital values and boundaries. Honestly, not a bad sentiment except for the fact that Demi is feeding Jen and Zac these positive thoughts to parrot like her pets.
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Demi continues that Jen should express how she “admires” Demi and Brett’s relationship, and admit she “jumped the gun for judging” Demi on how she handled herself in Italy without going “into any detail about what may or may not have happened” with “certain cast members from the show.” On the call, Jen pushes back a little, saying if the producers ask her about what specifically happened in Italy, she’ll “let Demi explain” because it’s Demi’s “story to share.” Jen did politely insist she still has “her truth too” because Demi did make her “uncomfortable.” Plus, Jen reminds Demi, it’s all on camera, babe!
As the president with a cartoonish look (no, not that one) once taught us, the cover-up can be way worse than the crime. Why was Demi so eager to puppeteer support if she really didn’t do anything suss in LVP’s Italian mansion? She obvi didn’t get accused of what Jessi has by the man for a reason, but if the whole Vanderpump Villa staff was questioning their vibes and Demi is campaigning this hard to shut it down, maybe there’s a lil something to hide? Even Demi’s biggest ally, Whitney, had to admit it’s a little weird to tell your friends what to say in advance.
After Jen wouldn’t agree to Demi’s STFU terms on the phone call, Zac and Jen allege at the reunion that Demi then threatened a cease and desist: “Demi’s way of getting Jen to be quiet, so let me get a cease and desist so you can’t talk about it.” Demi previously denied the claim during a cast interview with Entertainment Tonight. “Prove it, pull it up,” Demi said to Jen on camera. Demi continued that “if” she had served Jen one, wouldn’t Jen have it to show now? But Jen pushed back, “Everyone knows that you tried to get a cease and desist.”