Copyright The Hollywood Reporter
Taylor Frankie Paul is still taking it all in. It’s been roughly a year and three months since the 31-year-old mother of three became the epicenter of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Keen on social media fame after she founded the Utah mom-influencer group known as MomTok, Paul has always known how to create a viral moment. The show ignited after Paul took to TikTok to expose the heard-around-the-world “soft swinging” scandal involving her and other MomTok members. Season one captured the ups and downs of her first relationship post-divorce, including her domestic violence arrest and third pregnancy. Mormon Wives is centered around a group of nine women, but she is its core, constantly driving the show’s storyline with her own interpersonal conflicts. Paul’s chaotic yet candid nature quickly uplifted her to reality TV icon status, so much so that ABC named her their next star of The Bachelorette. Her casting marks the first time a non-Bachelor-associated alumna will lead the mega-franchise, and it certainly delivered a “mixture” of reactions. But Paul tells The Hollywood Reporter the polarizing response is “very fair,” but she has one request for viewers ahead of season 22 of The Bachelorette: “Give me a shot at just seeing who I am.” Below, Paul teases what’s to come in season three of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, if she said no to potentially competing on Dancing With the Stars because of The Bachelorette, what she thought about the internet’s reaction to her casting and if she really thinks she can find love on reality TV. It’s been a little over a year since The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives hit Hulu. When the show launched and you began filming, did you ever think it would blow up in the way it has? No. I remember saying, “I think this will do alright.” But never did I ever see it hitting number one on Hulu, I think it was the first day [on the streamer]. And nor did I ever think it would have an Emmy Award [nomination] within the first year. Things like that, I never anticipated. I’m still in shock, to be honest (Laughs). Do you think your experience on social media and your honesty online naturally led you to be so candid on Mormon Wives? I would say yes, [but] it didn’t start that way. If you know my backstory, I started on satire [content] — you didn’t know what was real in my life and what wasn’t. I had to learn the hard way of, kind of, let’s jump out of this bubble that I’m portraying to be or think I am, and actually just be who I am, and people can take it or leave it. I eventually started doing that in social media, and obviously I got a way bigger audience, because people were like, “Oh my gosh, this girl is just saying it how it is.” And that’s what people want at the end of the day, is someone to resonate with and not feel so alone and isolated in this world. So, did that always come naturally? No, I actually had to learn that, oh, people actually do just want you to be yourself and not something else. But with the show, that was easy to continue on with that. The Mormon Church is a huge part of the show. Having grown up in the church, why do you think that entertainment is so intrigued by Mormonism right now? I kind of wondered the same thing. Because when you’re in it, you’re kind of like, Why is everyone intrigued by it? However, I kind of took a step back and recently just met someone, they were in Methodism, and I was so intrigued by their way of going about. Obviously I don’t know about any other religion, so to me, all of the others are fascinating. So when I’m looking from [Mormonism], we have some pretty strict guidelines. Something as simple as [not being able to have] coffee and tea, that’s why our sodas are such a big thing, which obviously became a trend now. And then our clothing and what you wear under your clothing. It’s just certain things, like, Whoa, you’re not allowed to do that. Where things broke the internet during my scandal and whatnot, is we were portrayed as these “good girl wives,” and then it turns out it was something completely different behind closed doors. And I’m not saying that every LDS member is that way. I’m just saying there [are] a lot [of members of the church] that are doing certain things behind closed doors. I think it made chaos, because one, people are disagreeing, but two, they don’t want to admit to that either. We were kind of the ones that broke that and was like, “Hey, not everyone lives a certain way.” We can still be Mormon and have all these different ways of living, and I think that’s why it created such chaos of people being scared that we’re going to represent something that’s maybe not represented, or maybe just showing true colors [of] maybe what does actually happen behind closed doors. At the end of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season two, there were so many fractured friendships in MomTok. Nowadays, it appears that most of the group is now all on good terms. Would you say that’s the case? Yeah [hesitantly], I would say for the most part. It goes back and forth. That’s the thing, it’s wavy. And right now, I’d say everyone’s cordial, but not on the same page. Is season three going to showcase how you mended some of these relationships with other members, such as Demi [Engemann] and Whitney [Leavitt]? You all have been posting online a lot together. For me, all I had to do was put myself in their shoes a little bit. And when I do that, I can give a lot more grace. Just being like, “Hey, I’ve been in that spot before. It’s not fun for anybody. It’s really hard emotionally and mentally.” Personally, I did try to remind myself I’ve been in these situations. I don’t want to make it harder on you guys than it has to be. It’s all about how you want to show up now. And then, it sucks, because I feel like over time, we all do seem like we’re in videos — we are in videos together, right? But you have to remember, we’re on different timelines [from the viewers]. So when we have disagreements or something’s wrong, we are six months past that. And we are also co-workers still, at the end of the day. So whether or not we want to be together, there are some times that we are together. Is it hard to go back and relive those moments when you have made progress in those relationships? Absolutely. I think it’s one of the hardest parts of this job. Not even this job, but this experience. Because, yes, it is a job. But at the end of the day, these are actual friendships to some of us, and to go back and watch really hard scenes, of course it re-triggers it all. I have to mentally prepare [myself] that that is not where I am now, even though those same feelings are resurfacing. There is definitely a mental game with that, and it can be really hard. I think all of us would agree to that. You’ve teased that season three is going to tackle the end of your relationship with Dakota [Mortensen]. Are there going to be more moments we’ll see that led to this final breakup? Or were you two still reeling from what was uncovered in season two? No, I think there’s definitely a story in there that pretty much sums it up, honestly. It sums it up to why and how. When Jen [Affleck] and Whitney were announced as part of the Dancing With the Stars cast at the reunion, I was surprised that you weren’t selected to join the cast. Were you holding off on doing Dancing with the Stars because of The Bachelorette? No. Honestly, I had no idea at the time [this was] coming, meaning The Bachelorette. I had no idea that was even talked about for me at that time. I also didn’t know they were going to pick two people [from Mormon Wives for DWTS]. That was a surprise to all of us, which was really cool. And I really, really wanted Jen to have it, because that was her bucket list thing in life. I think there was a handful of us that interviewed for it, but at the end of the day, I think she wanted it by absolute most. And then, of course, Whitney also, that is her element. It is so cool to watch, because you can just see they’re so happy. Having seen what they’ve been doing on the show, do you think you would potentially want to do Dancing With the Stars in the future? Yeah, I would definitely be open to it. At the time, like being even considered, it was not for me. It wasn’t realistic. I was in the midst of my breakup and co-parenting now with two baby daddies. It was something I didn’t really see working out for me at the time. I was still in the heat of things in my personal life, and it wouldn’t have worked. I think everything does happen for a reason, which is crazy, because let’s say hypothetically, if I’d ever gotten an offer [for DWTS], I would have never had this opportunity [with The Bachelorette], right? Like, I obviously couldn’t have done both. Were you expecting the reaction that emerged online when you were announced as the next Bachelorette? I will say yes and no. Because in my head, I have our audience and fan base that are so supportive [from] Secret Lives. I didn’t know the extent of Bachelor Nation, I’ll say. And their audience, they’re [a] diehard fan base. For me, it was like, Whoa. I didn’t really know, because I’m not really into reality TV. Obviously some people were like, “Ah, why did she get it?” Or [they were] super excited. So definitely a mixture of what I saw, but in my mind, from a social media perspective, I’m like, You’re doing exactly what we want you to do, in a sense of when I post or do something, it’s usually like I want some type of reaction. I don’t think that’s a secret to anybody. And not that that was the goal of [me being cast], but to me, from a marketing standpoint, I’m like, OK, cool. Whether you like it or not, all you’re doing is spreading the word about it. It was kind of cool and exciting to watch it. What would you say to a Bachelor Nation fan who doesn’t know you from Mormon Wives and may judge you based on aspects of your past? I feel like it’s very fair to see some things and be like, “Oh, not a fan,” if you’re looking at just very few things. What I will say is maybe tune in to make sure you’re really getting a read on who and how I am. Because if you'[ve] not really seen anything [I’m in], then you maybe only know my news headlines, which maybe aren’t the prettiest ones. I feel like if you were to ever watch me, hear my story, I think I come off a little bit differently than people would just assume. I think maybe just give me a shot and see, and then at the end, if you’re still like, “Nah,” then that’s up to them. But until then, I would just maybe give me a shot at just seeing who I am, really. That would be my only ask. You have said that starring in The Bachelorette is not going to deter you from appearing on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. How are you going to juggle being a part of these two massive shows? I’m still navigating how. We’re just in the preps of it trying to navigate everything. It’s something that is going to take a village. Honestly, I have my family heavily involved, my management, production teams and networks, and everyone has a hand in it — a helping hand — and it makes it doable for me. I’m so thankful for that. But yeah, clearly I have a whole team helping me, or this would not be realistic, so I am very grateful for that. You’re the first person from outside the franchise to lead a Bachelor Nation show. Because of the shock surrounding your casting and the audience you’re naturally going to bring from Mormon Wives, do you feel pressure as you step into this role as the Bachelorette? Or are you ready to go in there and shake up The Bachelorette and bring it into a new era? I will say a little bit of both, if I’m being honest. Because there’s this certain stigma, if you will, that the Bachelorette should be a little bit more classier (Laughs), more maybe than I am. I’m like, Do I need to clean up my mouth, or say things in a different approach? But then, I’m like, uh, no. Because why would I do that? For me, it’s like, [I have to] be who I am — [it’s a] take it or leave it kind of thing. Maybe that is why I was chosen — to be who I am. Maybe that does shake things up, and maybe that’s what’s needed, is a little bit of change. Maybe do it a different way, because that’s what I am going to do. I can’t tell you what makes it and what doesn’t, but I will be true to myself. And I think they also want that too. You know, Hannah Brown is the iconic Bachelorette, which I did see years ago. I’m like, Well, what was it that she did, or what is it [that set her apart]? And I think, honestly, what the commonality there is, is she was just herself, said what she was thinking and it was what it was. So maybe I just do that, and people can either love it or hate it, but at least I was just being me. What will you do if one of the men from your season gives off shady, clout-chasing energy? What will you do if a man flat-out tells you that he’s ready to join DadTok? I would say, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You have to ask me on a date first, sir (Laughs). Like, relax.” Obviously I want [the men] going in with their best intentions, and that obviously will come within time of who is and isn’t. But I think if [or] when that presents itself, I’ll take it and handle it. It’s hard to say because I don’t know the exact situation. But I am a very intuitive person, so I can usually, at this point, read on that sense. I’ll be very blunt and honest and just kind of straight up say it or ask it. Whatever it is I’m thinking, I’m going to be very honest with them, because I don’t have — I’m a mom of three. I’m not playing any of these games. I’m not going to take my time and wonder [about their intentions] if I can sense it. I’m just going to kind of call it out (Laughs). Do you think The Bachelorette format can actually work and lead to you finding love? I do. I actually do. And to be honest, that’s what’s so funny is because people can have their assumptions, but I am one that when I open my heart, I can fall pretty fast. I think that’s why I took this time before [The Bachelorette] to really heal and stay isolated and not really get too much involved. I didn’t want anything serious, and I didn’t really put myself in situations that I could [find something serious], because I do fall fast. And obviously this isn’t a timely matter, and we all know that. And I think if anyone were to [find love on the show], it would actually be me, which is so funny because I’m known as chaos, right? So I may have a chance in this. I actually do think that. What is one thing about Taylor Frankie Paul that you think would surprise people who just know you from TV? My really calm energy. I will say that’s a surprise to any guy, if we’re talking [or] to just anyone. But more so dating, guys always say I’m different than they thought I was, in a sense of, “You’re actually just, like, calm and chill,” where I think I come off as chaotic and crazy, if you will. But I’m quite the opposite (Laughs). Is there a celebrity or public figure that is a fan of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives that has shocked you? Yes, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are fans. And that, to me, was just like, what the heck? Scott Dissick was another huge one that we’re like, How do you even know who we are? I grew up watching all of their movies and still to this day watch freaking Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. So I’m like, in what world? What is happening? Describe season three of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in one word. Unpredictable.
