Reality star Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry are taking time apart, a separation revealed in a recent episode of Mormon Wives that centers on long-running intimacy and mental-health struggles. Matthews’ confessional made clear the split is complicated — and uncertain — as both partners try to figure out what comes next.
What happened
On the show, Matthews explained that Jace asked for space and that she is still processing that request. She admitted being apprehensive and unsure how long healing will take: “I think it’s definitely hard to put a timeline on the situation because it could take weeks, it could take months to be healed.”
Matthews said there is a real fear of losing Jace, even while describing their marriage as strong in many ways. “There’s part of me that is definitely scared to lose him because I feel like our marriage is so good outside of the sexual intimacy part of it,” she said, calling the mismatch “ironic because it’s his number one need and that’s my number one wound.”
Background: intimacy and mental health
During Mormon Wives’ fourth season, the couple took steps to work on their intimacy while Matthews dealt with her own mental-health journey. Despite those efforts, she conceded progress has been limited: “Jace and I haven’t really made any progress as far as our intimacy in our sex life goes,” she said in another confessional.
She also made clear that her attraction and commitment to Jace remain intact: “I’m obviously very attracted to Jace, and I want to be married to him. It makes me sad that I’m not able to meet his needs, and I know there’s only so long that he can be patient with me for.” The tension between emotional closeness and physical disconnect is central to the couple’s storyline.
Why it matters now
The split highlights how reality shows are increasingly foregrounding conversations about mental health, intimacy and the limits of therapy within a marriage. For viewers, Matthews and Terry’s storyline becomes a lens on how couples negotiate needs that don’t neatly align — especially under the scrutiny of cameras.
Fan and industry response
While the episode itself focuses on Matthews’ perspective, the situation is likely to drive discussion among fans about privacy, healing timelines and the support systems reality-TV couples rely on. The series has already shown the couple attempting tangible changes; audiences will be watching to see whether time apart leads to reconciliation or a more permanent separation.
What to expect next
Upcoming episodes of Mormon Wives will likely follow this arc, documenting any counseling, personal therapy or decisions the pair make. For now, Matthews frames the split as a step in a process: uncertain, painful and aimed at addressing deep wounds rather than a simple breakup.
As the show continues to track their journey, viewers can expect more candid confessional moments that explore both the emotional stakes and the practical choices a couple makes when intimacy and mental health collide.