With over 2 million followers, Whitney Leavitt stands out on TikTok, where she started posting in March 2020, wanting to do more than just parenting. This Utah-based influencer graduated from Brigham Young University in 2018 majoring in Dance and loves to share her dance moves online.
Her ambition doesn’t stop at social media; she’s also stepped into acting with roles in the short film An Uncharted Desire (2023) and other upcoming projects: In the Wake of Silence, What to Expect When You’re NOT Expecting and Remembering Tomorrow.
Her latest project is the Hulu reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which explores controversial aspects of the LDS community. The series showcases swinging scandals within the LDS community that have stirred up controversy online and drawn significant media attention.
Being in the public eye isn’t always easy, and she has dealt with her fair share of ups and downs and controversies as an influencer.
Controversies Ranging From Husband’s Tinder To Dancing In Front of Her Sick Child
Whitney has encountered her share of online drama, particularly regarding her family life and parenting choices. She and her husband, Connor Leavitt, exchanged vows on August 19, 2016, when she was 23. Their decision to commit at a young age aligned with both their Mormon faith and personal readiness.
In April 2022, after six years of marriage, rumors began circulating that Connor had been spotted on Tinder, leading to widespread speculation about him cheating on Leavitt.
The couple addressed the controversy, revealing a complex history. They disclosed Connor’s childhood abuse and subsequent struggles with porn addiction. According to them, his Tinder presence was an attempt to seek help, not to meet others. While Whitney seemed to accept this explanation, many followers remained skeptical, sparking intense online debate.
She has been open about their relationship, even joking during a podcast about getting married to have sex, in accordance with their religious traditions. On their 7th anniversary, she humorously posted on Instagram:
7 years ago today we had seggs for the first time. Happy anniversary babe. Thanks for always taking great photos of me lol.
Despite the marital drama, the duo have built a family together. They have a daughter Sedona, 7, and a son Liam, 5. However, it was after Liam’s birth, in 2021, that she faced another major controversy.
Shortly after Liam’s birth, he started having trouble breathing and was rushed to the hospital. Tests showed he had low oxygen levels and tested positive for RSV, a common but sometimes serious virus in babies. The next day, doctors also found he had bacterial pneumonia.
During this stressful time, Whitney made a decision that would cause outrage among her followers. She posted a TikTok video in which she danced to a Kendrick Lamar song while discussing Liam’s health issues. The video, which is now deleted, quickly went viral but for all the wrong reasons. Many viewers condemned her actions as insensitive and inappropriate, especially given the seriousness of her son’s condition.
Whitney later removed the video and explained that she had simply wanted to update her friends and family in her usual TikTok style. However, the damage was done, and the incident became another point of contention in her online presence.
Even with these controversies, the pair’s relationship continues. They’re expecting their third child in October 2024.
Is She Private About Her Foster Family To Shield Them From Her Controversies?
Amidst all the fame and online presence, Whitney Leavitt seems to keep her foster family largely out of the spotlight. This discretion could be a deliberate choice to protect them from the public scrutiny that often accompanies her fame and to maintain their personal privacy.
She grew up in a large foster family deeply rooted in Mormon beliefs, sharing her childhood with foster siblings Haylee Nicole Lambe, Lexi Ellis, and Brady Ellis. Her foster father, also named Brady Ellis, is a renowned music producer with an impressive portfolio, including music for The Twisted Disturbed Life of Kane, trailers for popular shows like Big Bang Theory and ABC World News, and even video games such as Circus Maximus by Kodiak Interactive. Complementing his creative influence, Whitney’s foster mother, Stephanie Lockhart Ellis, works at Breeze Airways.
While she doesn’t share much about her foster family publicly, glimpses of their ongoing close relationship can be seen through Stephanie’s Instagram posts. These photos show her actively participating in family dinners and events, with her comments appearing on a few of these posts.
