Lara Sophia 
RHOSLC star Monica Garcia reveals that the real reason behind her divorce from her ex-husband, Mike, was domestic violence. Get all the deets!
Monica Garcia aired most of her dirty laundry throughout her debut season on the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Within the first few episodes of season 4 of RHOSLC, Monica admitted to co-star Heather Gay that she was excommunicated from the Mormon Church after having an 18-month-long affair with her brother-in-law, Jared Taylor, a 42-year-old fire chief from Ogden, Utah.
Monica and Jared’s affair took place from 2010 to 2011.
The 40-year-old had an affair with the man married to her now ex-husband’s sister. Complicated right?
During part one of the RHOSLC season 4 reunion, Monica shed more light on her affair while admitting the responses she received from Bravo fans ranged from harsh criticism to admiration for her honesty.
Monica explained that her affair happened over ten years ago. While her RHOSLC castmates were “wonderful” towards her after learning about her affair, the same can’t be said for fans who attacked her on social media.
“As far as everybody here, especially Heather, have had very deep conversations about that and how painful that was for me. And you guys were actually wonderful. It wasn’t about bragging or not taking accountability. Right. I don’t think taking accountability means self-shame and self-hanging for the rest of my life,” Monica said. “I was excommunicated. I bore the scarlet letter. I still do. I was rebaptized. I went through the whole rebaptism process in the church.”
“I’m reliving it. Like, I’m constantly being called a whore online; my comments are nasty. Like, it’s wild,” she added.
After part one of the RHOSLC season 4 reunion aired on Tuesday, January 9, Monica took to Instagram to shed more light on her divorce from her ex-husband, Mike.
On Instagram, Monica explained that domestic violence was the reason for her divorce, not her affair.
“I haven’t wanted to post about this because I already know what the comment section is going to say and how nasty people can be and have been on my page. However, if this helps one person out there to feel seen and give them any kind of comfort, hope, or support then it is worth it to me. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. I am sending love to all of those affected by domestic violence #rhoslc,” Monica captioned her Instagram post.
The RHOSLC rookie explained that her ex “was arrested a couple of times for domestic violence on me in front of our girls and violations of protective orders.”
She added that she hoped to “bring awareness” to these issues on RHOSLC.
“I had hoped to speak about it on the show to help better explain why things are the way they are in my life currently,” Monica explained. “To bring awareness to women dealing with this issue and to help them see that they are not alone.”
However, Monica says she never got the chance to have that discussion on camera.
On Instagram, Monica shared:
“I have received several questions about my divorce. Yes, the affair happened over a decade ago. No, that is not the reason for our divorce. I understand you all having questions and trying to figure out the reason for the divorce now. I have debated answering this publicly or not.
However, when I did apply to be on the show, I had planned on bringing awareness to this subject and speaking about it openly. Another subject, which was discussed several times, along with others, that wasn’t shown in the email that was shown on last night’s episode. The reason for our divorce was because of domestic violence. My ex was arrested a couple times for domestic violence on me in front of our girls and violations of protective orders. I had hoped to speak about it on the show to help better explain why things are the way they are in my life currently. To bring awareness to women dealing with this issue and to help them see that they are not alone. I hope anyone going through this issue knows that I am with you. I hope you see that you can move on from this horrible situation and begin to give your children a better life away from those circumstances. That there is life after abuse, that it wasn’t your fault, and that you have tribes of people ready to carry you through.”
Monica and Mike tied the knot in 2009. Four years later, Monica filed for divorce; however, she and Mike eventually reconciled. In June of 2023, Monica filed for divorce for the second time.
The RHOLSC star finalized her divorce from Mike on October 24.
In the divorce, Monica Garcia was awarded sole legal and physical custody of daughters Bri, 18, Jaidyn, 13, West, 7, and Kendall, 6. Mike was also ordered to pay the RHOSLC star $2,636 a month in child support and $4,000 a month in alimony.
Mike must pay child support until each child reaches the age of 18. He must also pay alimony “until June 2037, or until other circumstances occur,” such as Monica remarrying or cohabitating with another partner.
The 40-year-old was also given “exclusive use and possession of” the couple’s $424,000 ranch-style home in Kaysville, Utah. Monica will have to pay her ex $130,000 for his share of the equity in the property. Per records, Monica and Mike still owe $168,000 on the property.
Part 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion airs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
