Whitney Leavitt’s Husband Responds to Viall Files About Her Parenting
Whitney Leavitt‘s husband, Conner Leavitt, stepped up to defend her after Nick Viall made contentious remarks regarding her ability to juggle career ambitions and motherhood.
In the episode of his podcast “Viall Files” aired on Wednesday, December 3, Viall, 45, along with his wife Natalie Joy, talked about Whitney’s upcoming role as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway.
“I’m curious because, obviously, we had Taylor Frankie Paul as The Bachelorette, and she faced a lot of scrutiny for prioritizing her career and love life over her children. I wonder how Whitney is balancing both,” Joy, 26, remarked. “She just spent three or four months on Dancing With the Stars. She has school-aged kids—possibly they are homeschooled. I’m unsure. The transition to Chicago in New York must take a lot of her time. How does she manage motherhood?”
Viall noted that Conner is “very hands-on” with their three children: Sedona, 6, Liam, 4, and Billy, 13 months. Joy, who has a 22-month-old daughter named River with Viall, added, “Clearly, we both lead busy lives and are always on the go. However, we understand that once she starts school, we will need to slow down significantly.”
The podcast episode led to backlash on social media, with some fans suggesting the couple wouldn’t challenge a man in a similar situation. Viall and Joy have yet to respond to the backlash, but Conner found a way to subtly respond.
“Teamwork looks different for everyone,” he captioned a TikTok on Thursday, December 4, showcasing time spent with his kids. “This is how we do ours ❤️ so proud of @Whitney Leavitt.”
Conner also engaged in the comments of the post, “liking” various responses that critiqued the podcast conversation.
“Nick Viall’s podcast was SO strange. Whitney isn’t the first or last mother to pursue an artistic venture like Broadway. Thrilled for her and this TikTok was the perfect reply!” read a comment that Conner supported, while another labeled Joy’s inquiries as “strange.”
He received considerable support for his composed reaction.
“‘But what will her kids do if their mom is busy?’ Well, meanwhile Connor,” remarked one social media user, and another added, “Judging a woman for chasing her dreams while having a supportive husband/dad in 2025 is absurd! 👏 We admire a power couple.”
The DadTok member also “liked” a comment that stated, “Conner delivered the classiest, warranted diss. We love a husband who appreciates his ambitious wife ❤ you both are fantastic parents 🫶🏼.”
The fans of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives have witnessed the cast evolve on and off screen even before the show premiered. Season 1 of the popular reality series, showcasing a group of Mormon mom influencers, premiered on Hulu in September 2024, following star Taylor Frankie Paul’s “soft swinging” scandal. “We’re not all swingers,” Whitney […]
Viewers of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives previously observed Viall and Whitney’s tense exchanges during the season 2 reunion, which aired in July. At that time, Whitney expressed feeling as if she was being “called out” repeatedly by Viall, a claim he rejected.
Viall had to eventually justify his approach in questioning Whitney as she found herself in the spotlight several times during the reunion.
“We made it clear that we are fans of the show. So, as the host, I aimed to balance being impartial while guiding the discussion,” he explained on the “Viall Files” podcast. “I was also ensuring everything was covered.”
Viall responded to Whitney’s accusation of him being overly critical.
“I was somewhat taken aback when Whitney expressed displeasure about my questioning style,” he mentioned. “Throughout the past two seasons, I felt it was crucial to address what I perceived as a lack of accountability from Whitney.”
Viall added: “Whitney is one of my favorite personalities; aside from Taylor, she’s probably the most essential cast member. I genuinely admire her.”
