TLC to air Breaking the Faith reality series based on former Mormon FLDS members

^ Female cast members of TLC’s Breaking the Faith attend a pow wow

TLC has had a huge amount of success with its Breaking Amish franchise, so of course it would make sense that they would look to expand into documenting the lives of young men and women looking to leave other strict religious communities. Next up for the network is the infamous polygamy-practicing Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), headed up most recently by Warren Jeffs, who is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years for charges of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault of children..

UPDATE – CLICK HERE FOR THE PREVIEW TRAILER AS WELL AS PHOTOS AND BIOS OF THE ENTIRE CAST!

The new reality series, titled Breaking the Faith (surprisingly not Breaking FLDS), premieres November 24 on TLC and will feature “eight young men and women who are trying to build a new life outside of the FLDS – either by choice, or by force,” according to the network’s press release. The initial season will reportedly be six one-hour episodes and is produced for TLC by Hot Snakes Media, the same production company that brought us Breaking Amish. From TLC:

The young men, known as lost boys, are cast-outs from their homes and not welcomed back, while the women are escaping the controlling ways of the community – including arranged marriage and a life of complete submission, known as “keeping sweet” – and are hoping for a better life on the outside. Leaving a world where every decision was made for them, they are now dealing with the challenges of living in a reality where they are now responsible for every move they make. And, for this group, being faced with making life-altering choices in their effort to win their freedom comes with the fear that consequences for leaving the compound will come without warning.

“TLC is opening the door on a historically secretive community, infamous for everything from their criminal leader to their distinctive prairie dresses and hairstyles,” says TLC General Manager Nancy Daniels. “Through the brave actions of the participants across both series, we will witness the eye opening reality of what day to day life is like within these communities, and what it takes to break away from the compounds and try to establish a new future on the outside.”

In addition to Breaking the Faith, TLC will also be premiering another FLDS-based reality series titled Escaping the Prophet focusing on the life and work of former FLDS member and author of the book Church of Lies, Flora Jessop. (The photo above is of Flora talking with Katie Couric.) From TLC:

ESCAPING THE PROPHET, premiering in December, is a new series that follows ex-FLDS member Flora Jessop on her mission to take down one of the most reportedly dangerous polygamist cults in America. Flora, a social activist, an advocate for abused children, and the author of the 2009 book Church of Lies, had endured extreme abuse during her life in the church, until she escaped at the age of 16. Now, she works closely with law enforcement, the Attorney General of Arizona, and a network of inside informants to help rescue runaways and extract victims within the community, as well as help empower families who chose to stay and fight. Using her difficult memories and her passion to help others, she works to deliver justice to the very people that she feels wronged her. Six hour-long episodes have been ordered; the series is produced for TLC by Screaming Flea Productions.

So what do you think is next up for TLC and Hot Snakes Media? I think Breaking Scientology is an obvious one! 🙂

Top photo: instagram