Jessi Ngatikaura spoke out amid split rumors with husband Jordan Ngatikaura — after sharing on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives that she cheated on him with Marciano Brunette. Jessi addressed being “forced” to share their story, as Jordan posted a video suggesting where they stand.
In last season’s cliffhanger, Marciano told Layla Taylor that he and Jessi had a sexual relationship. But he later admitted that Demi Engemann allegedly influenced him to say they had sex, when in reality they just kissed. He and Jessi later took a lie detector test, which seemed to confirm that they never had intercourse.
After Hulu released the new season, reports surfaced that Jessi and Jordan were selling their luxury home as she changed her last name on social media. Fans have speculated that they broke up for good.
“Since the show has come out, it’s been hard,” said Jessi in a November 19 TikTok. “I’ve had, like, a lot going on with press and stuff for the show, and … I’ve had to just keep a happy face on.”
“And I’ve been prepared for the show to come out, and so has Jordan, but it’s still hard when it does. We knew we were gonna be faced with criticism and opinions,” she said, seemingly alluding to her suggestion on the show that there was emotional abuse in the relationship, leading up to the affair. “To be honest, like, we were a little bit forced into sharing this story. As you see on the show, my cheating comes up, and I have to talk about it on camera. And we just then decided to be honest and share everything. And that wasn’t ideal, and it probably wasn’t something we would have done if it hadn’t have been found out. But once something like that does come out and you’re on reality TV, you can’t hide from it. You can’t have secrets.”
She then addressed the polygraph.
“I know there’s still people who don’t believe me about the lie detector test,” she said. “There’s still people who think I’m lying about certain things, or people that think that Jordan’s a d**k or that I’m terrible. Like, there’s so many opinions out there, and it’s really hard to go through that in your marriage publicly.”
“[Our relationship has] been really hard, but it’s something we’re trying to work on, and we’re choosing to put our best foot forward and try to get through it,” she continued, choking up. “And I’m only sharing it in hopes that, like, anyone who’s been through something similar can maybe understand and relate, cause I know there’s been women in my situation and men in his. … But it is so embarrassing and it’s so hard to have everything put out there.”
Jessi asked fans not to send “hate” to Jordan, as she expressed that she feels “hopeless right now,” and she’s going to take a break from social media.
@_justjessiiii Thanks to those that have sent love and support ❤️ I’ll be back in a bit
That same day, Jordan posted a smiling Instagram video with Jessi as the couple mouthed the lyrics to “Popular” from Wicked, suggesting they’re in a better place.