Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura, the beloved couple from "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," have decided to part their ways after five years of marriage. As per Utah court records accessed by E! News, Jordan has filed for divorce.
"This decision has not been easy, and it comes with a heavy heart," he told TMZ in a March 19 statement. "I'm grateful for the shared memories and the lessons. While our paths are now moving in different directions, my priority remains my children and ensuring they feel loved, supported, and protected through this transition."
Jordan, who shares Jagger, 5, and Jovi, 3, with Jessi and has a daughter Peyton, 13, from a previous relationship, added, "I am committed to handling this next chapter with kindness and respect. I kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this as a family."
Jessi has not yet publicly commented on the divorce. Just last week, the hair salon owner detailed how her experience in couples therapy with Jordan had "helped a lot" since they implemented a 90-day separation last year in the wake of an emotional affair she had with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette.
"We've been doing that for about a year now since the separation happened," Jessi told People in an interview published March 13. "It's taught us both a lot about how we are as individuals and how we are in a relationship, and it's just kind of still a work in progress."
Despite their reconciliation, Jessi revealed that both she and Jordan had "made mistakes for sure." "Mine being the affair and his being the emotional abuse, but I think it takes two to tango," she told People in a separate interview published Nov. 13. "And having that toxic dynamic definitely got me into the mindset of where I was and why I did what I did."
Jessi continued, "I wish I never had [the affair], and I hope Jordan feels the same about how he treated me for a while. But yes, it took both of us to get there. I think having it come out publicly was a good wake-up call for us because it got us help."
For his part, Jordan shared, "I take full accountability for the pain I caused Jessi during our marriage." "At that time in my life, I was deeply unhealed, and as the saying goes, hurt people hurt people," he continued. "That doesn't excuse my behavior in any way; it's something I've had to face and take full responsibility for."
Despite what Jessi described as "ups and downs" in her relationship with Jordan, she confirmed to E! News in November that "We are back together." "We're trying to work on it," she explained. "Relationships are not perfect. A situation like ours will take time. It's not going to be something that's just amazing overnight."
