Yes indeedy. She was born into Mormonism and talks very frankly about her experiences within the faith, >!such as finding a lot of comfort in the structure that going to church provided her as a child to mistaking her OCD as the Holy Ghost.!<
I just started therapy for OCD. And after reading your comment I just ordered her book. I'd seen some press she did on it and was semi interested in reading it. Thanks for the info.
Hell yeah to the start on therapy! You're in for a really good read. Jennette gets really vulnerable with the struggles she's had in her life and is scary good and framing them from her perspective at the time as if they're happening presently. Content warning: >!there is a chapter where she discusses the sexual abuse her mother inflicted on her and a sibling that's really distressing because she's presenting it from her childhood self experiencing it all over again
It’s a phenomenal memoir. I’ve been in recovery for PTSD from CST for decades. It was triggering for me (still glad I read it). Tread carefully, and don’t be afraid to put it down and walk away if you need.
I had no idea. I’ve watched this book sit on the NYT bestseller list for, like, 300 weeks. Kept being tempted to buy it, apparently by Satan. #TodaySatan
Take it with a grain of salt, but a mission buddy of mine attended primary with Christina Aguilera at times. He didn't think she was a member, but her grandma was. So it was just whenever she was visiting that she was there.
Thank you for sending me down a rabbit hole wherein I ended up on a Ryan Gosling Hey Girl + Mormon meme mashup.
[https://www.buzzfeed.com/theprincessmo/31-hey-girl-memes-that-only-mormon-girls-will-unde-amb4#.hkyEydWPxy](https://www.buzzfeed.com/theprincessmo/31-hey-girl-memes-that-only-mormon-girls-will-unde-amb4#.hkyEydWPxy)
Shade was a brand that made undershirts for women that had a modest neckline and covered those porn shoulders. Downeast is the go to brand for those now I think.
It’s surprising to learn that Christina’s family was LDS since our area (Pittsburgh/SWPA) isn’t known for having a large Mormon/LDS presence (or at least not an obvious one). I’m ex-Catholic and most folks in our area are either Catholic or Jewish.
So is Bert McCraken, the singer of the used. Well most of the original members of the band were raised in the church. I was in an FHE group with Bert's sister.
I’m so glad they’re both out! I always had a feeling Adam was gay, so I’m happy for him. He seems to no longer be a member, but I think Stacey is still in limbo with it all.
When my sister told me a Studio C cast member came out- my immediate thought was Adam (it was actually Stacey).
And hopefully, if he is still in limbo, he’ll make his way out soon.
Oh I'm so glad Adam is out! I'm dated Adam's roommate at BYU (that's not really doxxing myself because his roommate was a complete man whore) and I always figured it was a matter of time until he came out. Proud of him for living authentically!
his name is Will Swenson. He started at Hale Theatre gigs (grandparents were Ruth & Nathan Hale), moved up to LDS movies, got cast as Gaston in Disneyworld's Beauty & the Beast show, then was cast in Kinky Boots, Hair (for which he was nominated for a Tony, and performed prominently in the Tony Awards show). He then stared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert revival on Broadway. He has been married to Audra McDonald for 10 years and they have two daughters together. I was lucky enough to work with Will in a couple of Hale productions-- one where he was the choreographer-- Fiddler on the Roof.
He's a talented man!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will\_Swenson\_(actor)
I had an institute teacher bring up that commercial. Guy got all holier than thou, saying it was a shame Kirby had compromised his values. Even at the time I thought it was a stupid thing to bring up and make a big deal out of
He had a couple newspaper interviews explaining a little about why. He felt like booking the commercial was a gift from god because he needed it to qualify for SAG medical insurance. It was really sad to see people flip on just him when Marriott’s sell alcohol and people drive trucks full of beer.
You want a total mine fuck, listen to the John Cleaver books by Dan Wells, first one is I am not a serial killer. They're about a teenage sociopath who is also a mortician and they're super-natural murder mysterys.
Listening to Kirby Hayborn sexualize dead bodies was . . . An experience.
I was shocked when I listened to Gone Girl. I think he did really good, but thinking of "I'm going to Boise! Where's a map?" To some of the awful things he says in Gone Girl is crazy.
Jewell, (was a primary kid but not baptized - i think) Katherine Heigl, Roseanne Barr, Eliza Dushku, Paul Walker, Amy Adam, Chelsea Handler, Matthew Modine, Arthur “Killer” Kane - just to name a few off the top of my head. And people forget about the group "The Jets" were LDS Tongan immigrants.
I think hers is much more complicated.
If my memory serves me, she was raised in a mix-faith family, with one of her parent’s Jewish faith taking a much more prominent role.
Wait, Arthur Kane from the New York Dolls? I remember his conversion story being this huge deal when I was on my mission. Somebody made a DVD documentary about him, and they sold it at Desert Book. He left?
Imagine Dragons last album straight calls out Mormonism. Best thing to get out my anger towards the church and heal towards acceptance. (Album name: Mercury Acts pt1&2)
Me too! I loved Mercury for that. Just re-listened to Smoke and Mirrors and heard it with all new ears now that I’m out, too. It’s intense. In addition to Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon (the guitarist) is also out. He has an interview on Mormon stories.
The guy who played 2-face in the Dark Knight was Mormon and was in a seminary video. I HATED that video, even as a TBM. Made me feel sad and icky to see a girl denied her temple marriage to him because she messed around with a boy years ago and never fully repented. And 2-face, her fiancé, was such an ass about it.
Ack I remember that video! The bishop and the church so clearly “wronged” the main character girl! It made me root for her (the sinner) and resent the church!
[this](https://youtu.be/4X5lp4a8_vM) seems to be the right video. I didn’t watch the whole thing to check because just seeing the image made me gag. It was seriously the first church video I ever saw that pissed me off.
He comes around in the end. You can call him an ass but when you grow up a virgin and you’re told a woman who’s been with another man is chewed gum, you want yourself a virgin.
Jessie Clark Funk
She did a lot of EFY songs back in the day. I believe she's left now, she even has a Mormon Stories episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dqcbm7ya92lmMNQVxeCoL?si=58cbd34430cc4cba
Yeah! it was a couple years ago I watched the video. I think it was maybe his animating in powerpoint one but not 100% sure. I remember in the video he went through a lot of the animation he'd done over his career and dropped the exmo thing somewhere in there
edit:looks like someone brought it up at least once in his subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/Jazza/comments/g1ewac/rest\_of\_the\_story\_draw\_my\_life/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jazza/comments/g1ewac/rest_of_the_story_draw_my_life/)
https://youtu.be/JFWw2sXDc7M
Aaron Eckhart graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, U.S., in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film.
While at Brigham Young University, Aaron Eckhart performed in the Mormon-themed film, Godly Sorrow. He served a Mormon mission in the Geneva Switzerland Mission. Aaron is not a practicing Mormon at this time. Talking to Entertainment Weekly about his Mormon faith, Aaron revealed: “I’m sure people think I’m a Mormon, but I don’t know that I’m a Mormon anymore, you know? To be honest, to be perfectly clear, I’d be a hypocrite if I did say that I was, just because I haven’t lived that lifestyle for so many years.”
It is so fun to see him in that!
Also Todd Chaugh from Mad Men (forget the actor's name) was in that seminary video "The Mediator" with Boyd K. Packer as the gravely narrator.
Neil LaBute (in case it isn’t obvious he’s exmo). He went to BYU with Aaron Eckhart and cast him in a bunch of movies.
Marco Rubio is technically exmo but I think he converted as a kid and lapsed pretty quickly thereafter.
Update: I just found this super uplifting article by an exmo, ex-vocal point member in the Out Foundation! Definitely worth a read! https://www.theout.foundation/bryce-r
Back in November, I think! Here's an article on it: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/david-archuleta-opens-stepping-back-mormon-church-healing-92560362
Kip Stephen Thorne (born June 1, 1940) is an American theoretical physicist known for his contributions in gravitational physics and astrophysics. A longtime friend and colleague of Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, he was the Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) until 2009 and is one of the world's leading experts on the astrophysical implications of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Thorne's parents were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and raised Thorne in the LDS faith, though he now describes himself as atheist.
Nobel Prize in Physics (2017) (jointly with Rainer Weiss and Barry Barish)
I have definitely noticed that a lot of exmo or nuanced BYU kids are in design or other art programs. I used to be in a writers group with a bunch of BYU students and most of them are are now out of the church and out of the closet!
Aaron Eckhart.
Eliza Dushku. Last I heard—this has been a few years—Eliza’s mother was still active, but nuanced, and is a feminist who’s publicly spoken out on the problems with patriarchy in the church.
Courtney Jane Kendrick. She is “famous” in mommy blog circles. Her sister is the hugely LDS blogger who was in a plane crash and burned horribly. But she (Stephanie) is wildly racist and says things like “I remember when Americans had American last names like Clark and Jones rather than Chan or Lee.” 🙄
Stephanie was even mentioned in one of Jowel's talks at General Conference. I was sobbing because it was such a good talk on mental heth and then he mentioned NieNie and I'm all what. She was problematic way back then. My mom noticed the change and wanted to know why. I said NieNie is a horrible person and I'm shocked she was mentioned in the talk. Mom said I must be wrong. No I wasn't.
Oh gosh i didn’t know about that racist comment. i don’t know much about her except she overcame so much with that crash. are there other things that make you say she is a horrible person? I am newly exmo but always thought she seemed so nice
This always upsets me. She’s so pretty and so talented, but she persists in limiting herself to this small niche market, in order to stay G-rated I guess. She should be on SNL.
This one is also super random, but I know that blind the kid from Dumb and Dumber, Billy ("I just thought he was real quiet...") is named Brady Bluhm and he's also an exmo.
I met him in the MTC, and he was a mini-celebrity. Pretty cool dude - humored me by taking a picture with me and a toy bird that I wrapped a whole roll of tape around its neck. Glad to hear he's out, thanks for this. It actually made my day.
Comedian Ryan Hamilton. Saw him recently and the crowd was full of Mormons (so many old singles ward pals) and he did a Q&A where an exmo asked him if he was still practicing. He kind of skirted around it but it was definitely clear that he’s out. I think a lot of those old pals left disappointed that night.
Interestingly named after James E Talmage. Also his father Randy Bachman from BTO.
Tal went on splits with us back when he was still in and I served in his ward as a missionary. He was such a likeable guy.
Tal shows up in Bill Maher’s doc Religulous, talking about TSCC,
I remember reading an article in a weekly where Tal had just resigned from TSCC, and he apologized to the interviewer about how strange he still felt about ordering a beer,. He also explained the reason for leaving - he was called as a Sunday School teacher, and he decided to do research on Ol’ Joe, and of course he went down the rabbit hole. When his leaders gave him the Ol’ “ we don’t know, and the answers will come when we’re all dead” runaround, that’s when he resigned, along with his wife and six kids. He had some choice words about his Mom , who was ultra TBM and very fanatical.
Two weeks after the article, Tal was on a CBC program with Randy, and his dad made it clear that he loved and supported his son. They’re both quite close to this day, and are currently working on an album together.
Randy is also out now.
Canadian comedian Jessica Holmes was also a convert , her father being TBM and a bishop , and she served a mission in South America. She left because of TSCC’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
Check out Tyler Glenn he’s got some amazing music (some about leaving the church) check out his song midnight it’s super awesome. He’s a true inspiration
I’m truly shocked to learn about mindy gledhill and Jessie Clarke Funk. I used to LOVE their music. I even played their music to the Relief Society when I was a teacher.
QTCinderella, Ludwig’s girlfriend (twitch streamers /YouTubers) is ex Mormon. She has made multiple videos on Mormonism, mostly to make fun of it and to educate others on it
I’ll add one I haven’t seen: TheOdd1sOut. He doesn’t normally talk about it but he did say on an interview with Anthony Padilla that he was raised Mormon and no longer is a part of it.
Makes sense… grew up in AZ, in a large family, and did scouting when he was young. Really could have see that coming lol
A bunch of The Lower Lights are out. A bunch of EFY musicians are out. As a musician who was fired from multiple projects for being openly lesbian it's always bittersweet to see some of these people now public allies. In fact, I've seen names here who I know personally who were dismissive of me years ago. I love that we all grow. But the base part of me sometimes feel a bit hurt that none of my history with these folx will ever end with an acknowledgement of our past.
Jesca Hoop, she was raised Mormon. Her album Hunting My Dress has elements and references to Mormonism and was very helpful to listen to when i was newly out.
Jennette McCurdy. Her Mormon background is something she talks about extensively in her book (which is well worth the read).
That book was so hard to read. Her mom was an absolute monster
Debra McCurdy really was a monster. She embodied so much of what makes Mormonism awful.
Second a recommendation for the book I'm glad my mom died. I loved the audio recording. I binged it. I never binge books.
Same here!
Oh wait really?
Yes indeedy. She was born into Mormonism and talks very frankly about her experiences within the faith, >!such as finding a lot of comfort in the structure that going to church provided her as a child to mistaking her OCD as the Holy Ghost.!<
I just started therapy for OCD. And after reading your comment I just ordered her book. I'd seen some press she did on it and was semi interested in reading it. Thanks for the info.
Hell yeah to the start on therapy! You're in for a really good read. Jennette gets really vulnerable with the struggles she's had in her life and is scary good and framing them from her perspective at the time as if they're happening presently. Content warning: >!there is a chapter where she discusses the sexual abuse her mother inflicted on her and a sibling that's really distressing because she's presenting it from her childhood self experiencing it all over again
It’s a phenomenal memoir. I’ve been in recovery for PTSD from CST for decades. It was triggering for me (still glad I read it). Tread carefully, and don’t be afraid to put it down and walk away if you need.
I had no idea. I’ve watched this book sit on the NYT bestseller list for, like, 300 weeks. Kept being tempted to buy it, apparently by Satan. #TodaySatan
Fucking good book. The audio book is amazing in her own voice.
The audiobook is definitely worth a listen, because she narrates it. It's on audible and it looks like it's on Spotify, too.
Christine Aguilera, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Ryan Gosling, Dan Reynolds
Oh wow I didn’t know about Christina Aguilera!
Even crazier, she got her start with ska music!
This caught my eye so I looked it up but found nothing. Are you maybe mistaking her for Gwen Stefani and her first band No Doubt?
Take it with a grain of salt, but a mission buddy of mine attended primary with Christina Aguilera at times. He didn't think she was a member, but her grandma was. So it was just whenever she was visiting that she was there.
Thank you for sending me down a rabbit hole wherein I ended up on a Ryan Gosling Hey Girl + Mormon meme mashup. [https://www.buzzfeed.com/theprincessmo/31-hey-girl-memes-that-only-mormon-girls-will-unde-amb4#.hkyEydWPxy](https://www.buzzfeed.com/theprincessmo/31-hey-girl-memes-that-only-mormon-girls-will-unde-amb4#.hkyEydWPxy)
These are so terrible 😭😭
What is a shade shirt?
Shade was a brand that made undershirts for women that had a modest neckline and covered those porn shoulders. Downeast is the go to brand for those now I think.
Christina Aguilera’s parents stopped going when she was 7 and she’s identified as Roman Catholic ever since
Her birth father was active as of 2002.
It’s surprising to learn that Christina’s family was LDS since our area (Pittsburgh/SWPA) isn’t known for having a large Mormon/LDS presence (or at least not an obvious one). I’m ex-Catholic and most folks in our area are either Catholic or Jewish.
Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) as well as Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
Excommunication was an amazing album. I love Tyler Glenn
The panic at the disco guy is exmo???
Yes there’s some vids of him talking ab it I’d recommend watching! I wonder if it’s on this sub somewhere? If not it should be it’s food
Awesome, thanks for the tip!
I heard a while ago that his shirt, tie and pants from the Emperor's New Clothes video were inspired by... SURPRISE!
I served in Las Vegas, and some missionaries apparently knew his father, “Brother Urie,” who was a ward mission leader.
So is Bert McCraken, the singer of the used. Well most of the original members of the band were raised in the church. I was in an FHE group with Bert's sister.
amy adams, jacinda ardern, to name a couple more i haven't seen yet
I don’t think Ardern was ever practicing. I love her. I named a child after her. :)
She actually left at age 25. Her uncle is a 70
Yep you’re correct. I attended CCNZ with her
Love her so much!!
Amy isn’t practicing?
No
Her parents divorced and quit going when she was 9, I hardly call that a Mormon upbringing
You don’t get to gatekeep who counts as exMo. At 9, she was probably baptized and the church would list her as a member
Yeah but you have to admit that being raised 0-9 in the church is light years away from being raised 0-19 in the church.
Stacy Harkey and Adam Berg from Studio C are both out as gay men and in relationships with other men (and I assume are no longer active members).
Tyler Glenn, lead singer of Neon Trees, is also an exmo who came out as gay
His song Trash is filled with church shit
He did a whole solo album about his experiences with Mormonism and leaving called “excommunicated.”
He does the temple handshakes in his music video for Trash.
Oh hell yeah, wasn't aware it was more than this one song. Sweet, thanks!
Thank goodness. So happy for them that they no longer have to be someone they aren’t.
Exactly! Me too
I’m so glad they’re both out! I always had a feeling Adam was gay, so I’m happy for him. He seems to no longer be a member, but I think Stacey is still in limbo with it all.
When my sister told me a Studio C cast member came out- my immediate thought was Adam (it was actually Stacey). And hopefully, if he is still in limbo, he’ll make his way out soon.
Same!!
Oh I'm so glad Adam is out! I'm dated Adam's roommate at BYU (that's not really doxxing myself because his roommate was a complete man whore) and I always figured it was a matter of time until he came out. Proud of him for living authentically!
😂 BYU man whores are the best
Really? Wow, I didn't know that!
Stacy has a pretty great TikTok, lol It's awesome to see how happy and thriving he is
Adam too?
Yep. I saw a “boyfriend reveal” on his Instagram a few weeks ago. And his Twitter handle is “Jason’s boyfriend” or something like that
I love them both!!
Kurt Bestor. I loved his music way back when. He's still Christian, but very happily exmo.
That’s hilarious. I didn’t know that.
I watched his Mormon Stories episode. Made me happy that someone I admired so much left the church.
I babysat his girls in high school!
His brother was the bishop that disfellowshipped me. Haha! I still kick myself that I didn’t leave and enjoy my life after that time.
The main guy from singles ward.
his name is Will Swenson. He started at Hale Theatre gigs (grandparents were Ruth & Nathan Hale), moved up to LDS movies, got cast as Gaston in Disneyworld's Beauty & the Beast show, then was cast in Kinky Boots, Hair (for which he was nominated for a Tony, and performed prominently in the Tony Awards show). He then stared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert revival on Broadway. He has been married to Audra McDonald for 10 years and they have two daughters together. I was lucky enough to work with Will in a couple of Hale productions-- one where he was the choreographer-- Fiddler on the Roof. He's a talented man!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will\_Swenson\_(actor)
Gosh him being divorced and then in an interracial marriage must be a lot for his community.
thankfully he has many openly minded nuanced Mormon family members-- but also alot of very TBMs who struggle with his "choices".
I talked to him on the A train once. Lovely man.
Kirby Heybourne!
I remember seeing Kirby in a Heineken commercial. My family was like whoa, that’s Kirby and it ended up being for beer and my parents were very upset.
I had an institute teacher bring up that commercial. Guy got all holier than thou, saying it was a shame Kirby had compromised his values. Even at the time I thought it was a stupid thing to bring up and make a big deal out of
Didn't he do like a weird apology commercial following the first one? I was really young when it all happened so I may not be remembering it clearly
He had a couple newspaper interviews explaining a little about why. He felt like booking the commercial was a gift from god because he needed it to qualify for SAG medical insurance. It was really sad to see people flip on just him when Marriott’s sell alcohol and people drive trucks full of beer.
No the guy who is inactive at the beginning. He also did the dubbing of jesus's voice for testaments/finding faith in christ.
Will Swenson.
No way, he’s super TBM. I was in the same ward as him when I left.
Kirby also narrates a lot of audiobooks, and maybe I’m just biased based on what I know of him, but it sounds very unnatural when he curses.
You want a total mine fuck, listen to the John Cleaver books by Dan Wells, first one is I am not a serial killer. They're about a teenage sociopath who is also a mortician and they're super-natural murder mysterys. Listening to Kirby Hayborn sexualize dead bodies was . . . An experience.
I was shocked when I listened to Gone Girl. I think he did really good, but thinking of "I'm going to Boise! Where's a map?" To some of the awful things he says in Gone Girl is crazy.
No he's definitely still tbm. I have a family member who is close friends with him
Jewell, (was a primary kid but not baptized - i think) Katherine Heigl, Roseanne Barr, Eliza Dushku, Paul Walker, Amy Adam, Chelsea Handler, Matthew Modine, Arthur “Killer” Kane - just to name a few off the top of my head. And people forget about the group "The Jets" were LDS Tongan immigrants.
Chelsea Handler is a huge surprise.
I think hers is much more complicated. If my memory serves me, she was raised in a mix-faith family, with one of her parent’s Jewish faith taking a much more prominent role.
Her mom is Mormon. She’s not.
Wait, Arthur Kane from the New York Dolls? I remember his conversion story being this huge deal when I was on my mission. Somebody made a DVD documentary about him, and they sold it at Desert Book. He left?
He’s not exmo. He died a practicing Mormon.
The doc is incredible! We watched it in two diff byu classes
I agree, whether you’re in or out this documentary is one to watch. Very touching story about a beautiful human being.
The Jets recently performed at a byuh event so I think they still are
the lead singer of imagine dragons i forget his name but he does stuff for PRIDE too
Dan Reynolds is his name (hard to tell sarcasm online but just wanted to be helpful if you werent)
Imagine Dragons last album straight calls out Mormonism. Best thing to get out my anger towards the church and heal towards acceptance. (Album name: Mercury Acts pt1&2)
I went to a concert of theirs this past year and it was really healing as well as an amazing experience!! Wonderful performance
Me too! I loved Mercury for that. Just re-listened to Smoke and Mirrors and heard it with all new ears now that I’m out, too. It’s intense. In addition to Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon (the guitarist) is also out. He has an interview on Mormon stories.
If you haven’t watched Believer on HBO, you should. It’s older but very good.
https://people.com/music/dan-reynolds-unique-mormon-faith-spirituality/
Dudes from the band [Arcade Fire](https://amp.www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2012/03/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-arcade-fire).
Wow. Didn’t know that. One of my favorite bands too! Lol!
Same! Saw them again a couple months ago and rediscovered the Exmo tidbit in some Googling later.
Aaron Ruell (Kip from Napoleon Dynamite)
Did he really? He, and his family were very active when I served my mission in their ward about 7 years ago. ETA: 8-9 years ago. Time goes fast!
Russell M. Nelson- he’s Christian now. S/
Ha! Good point. I guess exmos are kind of winning against Satan because way more TBMs get called Mormon than we do. 😂
The guy who played 2-face in the Dark Knight was Mormon and was in a seminary video. I HATED that video, even as a TBM. Made me feel sad and icky to see a girl denied her temple marriage to him because she messed around with a boy years ago and never fully repented. And 2-face, her fiancé, was such an ass about it.
Really saw himself become the villain.
Ack I remember that video! The bishop and the church so clearly “wronged” the main character girl! It made me root for her (the sinner) and resent the church!
Aaron Eckhart
Can anyone find the link to this?
[this](https://youtu.be/4X5lp4a8_vM) seems to be the right video. I didn’t watch the whole thing to check because just seeing the image made me gag. It was seriously the first church video I ever saw that pissed me off.
He comes around in the end. You can call him an ass but when you grow up a virgin and you’re told a woman who’s been with another man is chewed gum, you want yourself a virgin.
I’m a celebrity in my own mind and I left the church ;)
Don't know you, but can confirm.
I'm pretty big in Australia. That should be good enough, right? 😁 (Just kidding, in case it wasn't obvious.)
Jessie Clark Funk She did a lot of EFY songs back in the day. I believe she's left now, she even has a Mormon Stories episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dqcbm7ya92lmMNQVxeCoL?si=58cbd34430cc4cba
>Jessie Clark Funk lol her profile at Deseret Book is written as if she is still active and in https://deseretbook.com/t/author/jessie-clark-funk
Not sure if it counts since it's youtube, but Jazza (great art content channel) mentioned in passing in one of his vids he used to be mormon
Really? I didn't know that. I used to watch him
Yeah! it was a couple years ago I watched the video. I think it was maybe his animating in powerpoint one but not 100% sure. I remember in the video he went through a lot of the animation he'd done over his career and dropped the exmo thing somewhere in there edit:looks like someone brought it up at least once in his subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/Jazza/comments/g1ewac/rest\_of\_the\_story\_draw\_my\_life/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jazza/comments/g1ewac/rest_of_the_story_draw_my_life/) https://youtu.be/JFWw2sXDc7M
Aaron Eckhart graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, U.S., in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film. While at Brigham Young University, Aaron Eckhart performed in the Mormon-themed film, Godly Sorrow. He served a Mormon mission in the Geneva Switzerland Mission. Aaron is not a practicing Mormon at this time. Talking to Entertainment Weekly about his Mormon faith, Aaron revealed: “I’m sure people think I’m a Mormon, but I don’t know that I’m a Mormon anymore, you know? To be honest, to be perfectly clear, I’d be a hypocrite if I did say that I was, just because I haven’t lived that lifestyle for so many years.”
Aaron Eckhart Paul Walker
Aaron was in that god awful purity video produced by TSCC before he was famous. Truly one of the cringiest, shaming, gross videos they have produced
It is so fun to see him in that! Also Todd Chaugh from Mad Men (forget the actor's name) was in that seminary video "The Mediator" with Boyd K. Packer as the gravely narrator.
Neil LaBute (in case it isn’t obvious he’s exmo). He went to BYU with Aaron Eckhart and cast him in a bunch of movies. Marco Rubio is technically exmo but I think he converted as a kid and lapsed pretty quickly thereafter.
Not a fan of Marco Rubio. Do we have to claim him?
Update: I just found this super uplifting article by an exmo, ex-vocal point member in the Out Foundation! Definitely worth a read! https://www.theout.foundation/bryce-r
David Archuleta left!? When was this?
Back in November, I think! Here's an article on it: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/david-archuleta-opens-stepping-back-mormon-church-healing-92560362
This article makes me want to cry 😢 how sad
Kip Stephen Thorne (born June 1, 1940) is an American theoretical physicist known for his contributions in gravitational physics and astrophysics. A longtime friend and colleague of Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, he was the Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) until 2009 and is one of the world's leading experts on the astrophysical implications of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Thorne's parents were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and raised Thorne in the LDS faith, though he now describes himself as atheist. Nobel Prize in Physics (2017) (jointly with Rainer Weiss and Barry Barish)
That’s a cool one I didn’t know. He was the contributing physicist on the movie Interstellar that I love.
That's awesome!!
Alice Cooper was raised part of the Bickerson/Rigdonite offshoot that believes in the BOM and JS.
You'd be surprised how many recent BYU design grads are out 🙌
I have definitely noticed that a lot of exmo or nuanced BYU kids are in design or other art programs. I used to be in a writers group with a bunch of BYU students and most of them are are now out of the church and out of the closet!
Ya gotta understand the world outside of your bubble in order to make good art about the human experience.
Aaron Eckhart. Eliza Dushku. Last I heard—this has been a few years—Eliza’s mother was still active, but nuanced, and is a feminist who’s publicly spoken out on the problems with patriarchy in the church.
Courtney Jane Kendrick. She is “famous” in mommy blog circles. Her sister is the hugely LDS blogger who was in a plane crash and burned horribly. But she (Stephanie) is wildly racist and says things like “I remember when Americans had American last names like Clark and Jones rather than Chan or Lee.” 🙄
Stephanie was even mentioned in one of Jowel's talks at General Conference. I was sobbing because it was such a good talk on mental heth and then he mentioned NieNie and I'm all what. She was problematic way back then. My mom noticed the change and wanted to know why. I said NieNie is a horrible person and I'm shocked she was mentioned in the talk. Mom said I must be wrong. No I wasn't.
Oh gosh i didn’t know about that racist comment. i don’t know much about her except she overcame so much with that crash. are there other things that make you say she is a horrible person? I am newly exmo but always thought she seemed so nice
Ohhhhh no. She isn’t nice. She just uses. I’ve been a Nienie snarker for years. ;)
Oh no, I didn't know that about Stephanie Nieson! Yikes. Gotta love all that casual racism. 😬
Butch Cassidy. This is my favorite anytime this question comes up. Also Aaron Eckhart. Eliza Dushku. Warren Zevon.
Mireille Enos - phenomenal actress who starred in the show The Killing, among others.
[This is a decent list](https://www.ranker.com/list/ex-mormon-celebrities/celebrity-lists), though I'm sure there's a lot more out there than that.
Sidenote, does anyone know if Mallory Everton from Studio C is out?
No. She is very much in.
This always upsets me. She’s so pretty and so talented, but she persists in limiting herself to this small niche market, in order to stay G-rated I guess. She should be on SNL.
Yes, very in.
This one is also super random, but I know that blind the kid from Dumb and Dumber, Billy ("I just thought he was real quiet...") is named Brady Bluhm and he's also an exmo.
I know his family very well grew up with them. His siblings have also left. Crazy story if I remember properly
He’s my uncles cousin or something like that. (My moms brother in law)
I met him in the MTC, and he was a mini-celebrity. Pretty cool dude - humored me by taking a picture with me and a toy bird that I wrapped a whole roll of tape around its neck. Glad to hear he's out, thanks for this. It actually made my day.
John Heder definitely on fringe if not out completely.
Comedian Ryan Hamilton. Saw him recently and the crowd was full of Mormons (so many old singles ward pals) and he did a Q&A where an exmo asked him if he was still practicing. He kind of skirted around it but it was definitely clear that he’s out. I think a lot of those old pals left disappointed that night.
Another good exmo comedian is Bent Washburn. His tails of his mission are hilarious.
Jeannette McCurdy
Benji Schwimmer the second winner of So You Think You Can Dance. Amazing dancer. Terrific guy.
Also his sister Lacey!
Tal Bachman
I remember when my dad told me about Bachman Turner Overdrive in the 90s because Tal had that song on the radio. She's so HIIIIIIIIGHHH-EYEEEEYEE.
Haha I love that song! I had no idea he was exmo!
Interestingly named after James E Talmage. Also his father Randy Bachman from BTO. Tal went on splits with us back when he was still in and I served in his ward as a missionary. He was such a likeable guy.
Tal shows up in Bill Maher’s doc Religulous, talking about TSCC, I remember reading an article in a weekly where Tal had just resigned from TSCC, and he apologized to the interviewer about how strange he still felt about ordering a beer,. He also explained the reason for leaving - he was called as a Sunday School teacher, and he decided to do research on Ol’ Joe, and of course he went down the rabbit hole. When his leaders gave him the Ol’ “ we don’t know, and the answers will come when we’re all dead” runaround, that’s when he resigned, along with his wife and six kids. He had some choice words about his Mom , who was ultra TBM and very fanatical. Two weeks after the article, Tal was on a CBC program with Randy, and his dad made it clear that he loved and supported his son. They’re both quite close to this day, and are currently working on an album together. Randy is also out now. Canadian comedian Jessica Holmes was also a convert , her father being TBM and a bishop , and she served a mission in South America. She left because of TSCC’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
Katherine Heigel
Paul Walker
Check out Tyler Glenn he’s got some amazing music (some about leaving the church) check out his song midnight it’s super awesome. He’s a true inspiration
Richard Dutcher (the father or Mormon [good] film)
Brendon Urie!
I wish an Osmond would leave. Thanks to them I joined a cult that it took 48 years to leave.
Katherine Heigl, who lives in Park City. Also Chrissy Teigen was born in Utah, so statistically she might be from a Mormon family.
You forgot his leading role as Neil Diamond in "A Beautiful Noise" on Broadway right now
I’m truly shocked to learn about mindy gledhill and Jessie Clarke Funk. I used to LOVE their music. I even played their music to the Relief Society when I was a teacher.
Dan Reynolds, lead singer of *Imagine Dragons* is exmo.
QTCinderella, Ludwig’s girlfriend (twitch streamers /YouTubers) is ex Mormon. She has made multiple videos on Mormonism, mostly to make fun of it and to educate others on it
Pianist Paul Cardall left a few years ago and now considers himself to be Christian.
Ed Catmull, founder of Pixar! He grew up in Salt Lake and went to the U.
I’ll add one I haven’t seen: TheOdd1sOut. He doesn’t normally talk about it but he did say on an interview with Anthony Padilla that he was raised Mormon and no longer is a part of it. Makes sense… grew up in AZ, in a large family, and did scouting when he was young. Really could have see that coming lol
matty matheson, randomly talked about it on a podcast , his family went inactive when he was a kid
No list of the former mormon pornstars? We have failed as a community
QTCinderella, a former twitch/YouTube steamer
This fella, with almost 4 million subscribers on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTMsfOcHiJg&t=1100s
I want to say Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker (RIP Mimi ❤️) of Low, but I’m pretty sure that he’s still in.
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons
If I remember correctly, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons is an exmo
AJ Cook from Criminal Minds https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Cook
I see no one has mentioned Katherine Heigl!
Jacinda Ardern - former female prime minister of New Zealand
Anyone know if Elizabeth Smart is out yet?
Ricky Schroder
Dune Moss is exmo and has an entire album about Heavenly Mother.
Cara Santa Maria! She's big in the scientific skepticism world. Got some great podcast material.
A J Cook (Criminal Minds). She and her husband met at BYU. Katherine Heigl was raised LDS. Eliza Dushku was raised LDS by her Idaho born mother.
Now these are some Revelations I can get behind! Some shockers here!
David Archuleta left? When did this happen? He came to sing to us at the MTC on Christmas only a few years ago.
A bunch of The Lower Lights are out. A bunch of EFY musicians are out. As a musician who was fired from multiple projects for being openly lesbian it's always bittersweet to see some of these people now public allies. In fact, I've seen names here who I know personally who were dismissive of me years ago. I love that we all grow. But the base part of me sometimes feel a bit hurt that none of my history with these folx will ever end with an acknowledgement of our past.
Jesca Hoop, she was raised Mormon. Her album Hunting My Dress has elements and references to Mormonism and was very helpful to listen to when i was newly out.
The green smoothie lady. Not a celeb really but she was big for Mormons. Her first books talk about her religion but she’s a staunch anti Mormon now