The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Ngatikaura has initiated a significant public change, reverting to her maiden name on social media following reports of an alleged affair with reality star Marciano Brunette. The name change—switching her surname on both Instagram and TikTok back to Draper—has fuelled intense speculation among viewers regarding the state of her marriage to husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, just as the third season of the Hulu and Disney Plus show returns with major relationship drama (The Express).

Jessi found herself at the centre of controversy after reports surfaced alleging she and Vanderpump Villa's Marciano Brunette were seen kissing in Los Angeles. This alleged encounter occurred just one month after the two reality personalities had filmed a notorious crossover episode, linking two major cable reality universes (OK! Magazine). The rumours were further intensified when Brunette, in a conversation with fellow reality star Taylor Frankie Paul, seemingly hinted that he and Ngatikaura had been intimate, sending the drama spiralling across social media platforms (Page Six).

The Name Change and Marital Struggle

The public move to change her surname occurred just prior to the broadcast of Season 3, a period Ngatikaura herself described as "raw and vulnerable" for her and her husband, Jordan, during an interview with Good Morning America (GMA). She admitted that while it was challenging to expose her private life to the cameras, the support from her co-stars was crucial, noting "these girls are my best friends so opening up to them, it wasn't difficult." Jessi and Jordan married in 2020 and are parents to two young children, son Jagger, five, and daughter Jovi, two.

The name alteration did not go unnoticed by the show’s dedicated audience, who immediately flocked to platforms like Reddit to theorise about its significance. One Reddit user commented: "I wondered if she's using Draper because Ngatikaura is hard for people to pronounce, especially when she's doing press and they're introducing her," adding the cynical note that Jessi "does seem the most producer-y of all the girls though. Seems like she would go to any length to 'do it for the show'" (Reddit). This public scrutiny highlights the blurred lines between authentic marital crisis and manufactured reality TV plot points.

Working Through the 'Tricky' Issues

Despite the rampant fan speculation about an impending divorce following the name change and reports of her being seen without her wedding ring, there is currently no official evidence to confirm the couple is separating. In early November, Jordan posted a video of himself alongside Jessi at the World Series Baseball Championships, and in October, he shared a family photo captioned “my favourite people,” suggesting they are presenting a united front publicly (OK! Magazine).

However, Jessi has acknowledged the severity of the situation. Speaking on The Viall Files podcast, she revealed that their relationship is actively in distress: "We're working through things and we're trying our best, but things are a little tricky right now." This statement confirms that while a divorce may not be imminent, the couple is undoubtedly struggling to reconcile the demands of reality television with the integrity of their private marriage, especially within the context of their deeply held Mormon faith and community expectations (Deseret News). The ongoing public spectacle ensures high ratings for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which is currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus.