⁠"It's getting worse" — The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Ngatikaura admits she will never forgive Demi Engemann

Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives thrives on drama, and Season 2 features a friendship fallout messier than a rogue Utah bake sale. Once inseparable, TikTok-famous Mormon moms Jessi Ngatikaura and Demi Engemann are now at war on screen, online, and in real life.

What began as a close bond has unraveled into social media takedowns, passive-aggressive posts, and public shade. Jessi confirmed fans' suspicions during a recent Page Six interview with castmate Layla Taylor.

“We’re done for good,” she said.

Later dropping the mic with:

“In real life, it’s getting worse. We’ll never be friends again.”

Jessi did not hold back, labeling Demi's behavior "unforgivable"—a term that resonates deeply in a show focused on curated reputations and public grace. The fallout has disrupted the entire cast dynamic, with Demi now assuming the reality TV villain role on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives once held by Whitney Leavitt. Whispers from behind the scenes suggest that the drama fans witness on Hulu is merely the tip of a particularly icy iceberg.

What happened between Jessi and Demi on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?

The decline of Jessi and Demi's friendship was not abrupt. Jessi characterized it as a "slow burn" that progressively escalated over the course of Season 2.

Early episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives depicted the pair as inseparable friends with matching styles and personalities. The first crack appeared during a group dinner when Demi expressed she wouldn't mind Jessi leaving for a larger paycheck for herself. Despite this, they continued to spend time together, with Jessi acknowledging they were "previously in a bad place" when that comment was made.

But the friendship couldn't withstand tensions. In her Page Six interview, Jessi called Demi a "bully" who targeted her business, JZ Styles, and her family. This, according to Jessi, was "the final straw."

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season finale introduced another explosive element: accusations involving Marciano Brunette. Though the episode ended on a cliffhanger, a preview clip showed Jessi stating:

"She knows this is ruining my family, my life. This is Demi's doing."

The post-season drama escalated when Demi and husband Bret Engemann appeared on "The Viall Files" podcast, claiming fame changed Jessi. Demi accused her former friend of leaking confidential information about an alleged groping incident involving Marciano after requesting silence on the matter.

Jessi didn't stay quiet. She fired back on Instagram Stories, sharing a clip of the couple's podcast appearance with the caption:

"willing to kick your friend off for more money but I'm the one in the wrong?"

She added that:

"high and mighty act is getting old."

The conflict escalated when Jessi alleged that Bret requested financial help from her family. In a comment on secretlivesmormonwives, she called Bret a "47-year-old washed-up loser who can't hold a job." She claimed he asked her husband Jordan for "$10,000 to pay his bills a few months back."

This accusation added complexity to the feud, suggesting tensions involved their spouses too.

New friendship dynamics surface

As Demi has become increasingly isolated from the core MomTok group, she's begun spending more time with Season 1 villain Whitney Leavitt.

Jessi dismissed this new alliance as "very convenient," adding:

"It's because they have no one else."

She expressed surprise at the friendship, claiming Demi had been "a bully to Whitney" during the cast trip to Park City featured earlier in the season.

Despite Whitney's villain status in Season 1, Jessi admitted to actually liking Whitney; however, she quickly added:

"when she's with Demi, I just keep my distance."

With the show's growing popularity, avoiding confrontation seems unlikely for either woman. Cast interviews suggest Jessi isn't alone in her frustration with Demi, who has emerged as Season 2's unexpected antagonist.

It is still unclear if their conflict will resolve or escalate; however, it is evident that a friendship formed on TikTok has evolved into one of reality television's most intense feuds, impacting lives beyond what can be captured on camera.

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In the U.S., you can watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives by streaming it on Hulu or tuning in to ABC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET.