The dramatic personal lives of the Utah-based MomTok influencers continue to unfold in season three of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Disney Plus and Hulu, with the recurring presence of Chase McWhorter fueling speculation about his relationship with lead star Taylor Frankie Paul (OK! Magazine).

The two reality stars have a complicated history rooted in the infamous 2022 "soft swinging" scandal that brought their community national infamy. While a dinner invitation in the latest season hinted at a romantic reconciliation, their current relationship status is definitively separate.

The Dinner Date and the Swinging Scandal 💥

Chase McWhorter's appearance in season three, specifically at Layla Taylor's birthday party and a subsequent flirty one-on-one outing with Taylor in episode 10, led many viewers to believe they were embarking on a new relationship (TV Insider).

The past between Taylor and Chase is deeply intertwined with the "soft swinging" agreement Taylor and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, had with a group of friends. "Soft swinging" was defined as non-monogamy where couples were permitted to be intimate with others in the group but strictly forbidden from "going all the way" without their spouses present (Biography).

The entire friend group dynamic exploded in May 2022 after Taylor confessed in a viral TikTok livestream to breaking the rules of the agreement by having an affair with one of the men in the group (Independent). While initial fan speculation targeted Chase, Taylor's confession confirmed she had violated the agreement, leading to her divorce. Chase and his now ex-wife, Miranda McWhorter, were eventually implicated, with Miranda admitting to participating in the swinging arrangements (Independent).

Chase and Taylor's grievances came to a head in Season 2, where they publicly clashed over his denial and differing narratives of the scandal, with Taylor asserting Chase confessed to having a crush on her (Parade).

Who Taylor and Chase Are Dating Now 💍

Despite the on-screen flirtation in the latest season—which followed Taylor’s final split from her on-off ex Dakota Mortensen—the reality stars are not currently dating.

• Chase McWhorter: He is in a relationship with Kate Racker, a blogger and recruiter (Parade). Their connection is particularly complex within the group, as Kate is a friend of Layla Taylor (whom Chase briefly dated) and has maintained a cordial relationship with Chase's ex-wife, Miranda McWhorter. The three women have even posted social media content together, openly trolling Chase, signaling a united front against his past actions (People).

• Taylor Frankie Paul: Taylor has secured a massive opportunity by signing on to be the next lead for Season 22 of ABC’s The Bachelorette. The news was first announced on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast in September, and the season is slated to premiere on March 22, 2026 (TheWrap).

The reality star—a single mother of three—admitted her surprise at the casting, noting she initially thought the role was an "unattainable" dream. "I can't even process what is going on. I am the Bachelorette, guys—that's wild!" she told Cosmopolitan. She acknowledged her complicated past and concerns over accepting the role, asking, "Who is going to want me?" (People).

Fellow MomTok member Jen Affleck claimed she had "manifested" Taylor’s role, telling Today.com, "I think she would save the franchise, and that's exactly what happened." Other cast members, including Jessi Ngatikaura, were "so excited," predicting Taylor will bring "such a unique twist to the show" (OK! Magazine).

The casting of a single mother with a history of public controversy, an arrest (in 2023 for domestic violence against an ex-partner), and a "soft-swinging" scandal marks a significant departure from the typical, cleaner image of past Bachelorettes (Biography). Taylor has already teased an unpredictable season, noting that her eliminations may not always wait for the formal rose ceremony, signaling a break from traditional franchise rules (Hindustan Times).

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