Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor didn’t mince words about her thoughts on Jessi Ngatikaura‘s affair — specifically her selecting “yucky” Marciano Brunette.
“I have no idea [how he got involved with Jessi] because I feel that man is yucky,” Layla, 24, quipped exclusively to Us Weekly. “There’s a variety of men we could have chosen for her — there’s just a variety of options on the market.”
Layla noted that Jessi, 33, was in a troublesome place in her life.
“Jessi at all times told us it’s not [about] who it was. She was within the improper place and improper time. Truthfully, it might have been anybody. I feel that she was just in a extremely emotional state,” she continued. “I’ll let her speak on her story when her time comes. But I feel that it might have been anybody, at that moment she just needed that validation. I wish it was someone more attractive and fewer gross but we will’t win all of them — and possibly someone that doesn’t need to take Viagra or Cialis or whatever he took.”
Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered earlier this yr, kicked off the infidelity rumors after Demi Engemann was accused of getting too near Marciano while filming Vanderpump Villa despite being married to Bret Engemann. Demi denied being unfaithful and Marciano ultimately made separate claims about his relationship with Jessi.
“I wouldn’t say I used to be in love with him. It only lasted about two weeks so it was quick. But I’ll say I confided in him quite a bit,” Jessi exclusively told Us ahead of the season 3 premiere, which began streaming on Thursday, November 13. “The dynamic with Jordan [Ngatikaura] that I had had in my marriage, I hadn’t really talked to anyone about it. My family and friends had been aware because they’d seen things but I attempted to be like, ‘All the pieces’s nice.’”
Jessi recalled sharing her marriage struggles with Marciano, including how she says Jordan “treated” her.
“I did feel a connection to him in that sense because he was there for me and he made me feel special,” she said. “Jordan would put me down quite a bit. Marciano told me how pretty and funky and fun I used to be. I felt like there was a connection there because he was giving me something I used to be lacking. But I wouldn’t say I used to be in love with him.”
After a two-week long emotional affair, Jessi got here clean to Jordan about Marciano.
“Jordan discovered when he went through my phone and put an end to it. However it was a blessing in disguise since it needed to finish,” she told Us. “I didn’t need to carry this on for months or years. I didn’t know find out how to get out of it.”
Layla believed Jessi’s version of events, telling Us, “I don’t think anything more happened than a kiss. At this point she’s already facing the repercussions of cheating so why would she lie about one other detail? She would just tell the complete truth at that time.”
Once Jessi got here clean about her separation from Jordan, Layla recalled seeing the signs.
“I feel like Jordan has at all times said things very abruptly. But Jessi at all times dismissed it. We’ve at all times brushed it off but now that we all know the complete context of what was happening of their marriage, I’m like, ‘Oh, it wasn’t just comments. That is emotional abuse,’” Layla added. “It’s a extremely hard situation because seeing one in all your mates get treated poorly is heartbreaking. I really like Jessi and I feel Jessi deserves absolutely the world. When she loves people, she loves really hard. That’s also why it’s hard for her in her marriage at once. I just want Jessi to be pleased.”
Along with supporting Jessi, Layla was glad she was in a position to speak her mind more in season 3.
“I just desired to be more vocal in season 3. I feel like season 1 and season 2, the audience could definitely see that there’s times that I couldn’t speak up after I was in certain situations. I used to be definitely quite a bit more reserved,” she recalled. “My goal going into season 3 was to say what’s on my mind, rise up for myself more and just be more authentic to who I’m as an individual. I feel like I definitely portrayed that basically well this season, which I’m pleased with myself for.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently streaming on Hulu.