Inside the California church scandal that is TikTok’s latest obsession

Inside the California church scandal that became TikTok’s latest obsession

NBC News Clone summarizes the latest on: California Church Scandal Tiktoks Latest Obsession Rcna598587 - Breaking News | NBC News Clone. This article is rewritten and presented in a simplified tone for a better reader experience.

Vicky Hernandez went viral after making videos about her youth pastor husband’s affair with a friend. Interviews with former church members, court records and internal emails reveal a more complicated story.

Sept. 19, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

By Pilar Melendez

For years, Vicky Hernandez and Niya Esperanza were regular fixtures on each other’s TikToks, showing off their travels, Costco runs and shopping hauls, often alongside Hernandez’s youth pastor husband, Joel Mitchell. Then, sometime in 2025, the videos stopped.

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