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She was the title on everybody’s lips on the primary season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, however earlier than she turned one of many faces of Hulu’s controversial new actuality present, Taylor Frankie Paul nearly starred on one other actuality present set in Utah: Bravo’s The Actual Housewives of Salt Lake Metropolis.
“I used to be truly interviewed for it, and I used to be advised I didn’t have sufficient drama in my life, so I didn’t get it,” Taylor advised StyleCaster in a joint interview together with her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives solid mate, Mayci Neeley. “However that’s OK as a result of now I’ve this present.”
Nonetheless, Taylor suspects that the dearth of drama in her life wasn’t the one cause she wouldn’t have made Housewife. “There was an curiosity there. That’s why I interviewed, however I additionally don’t assume I’d have slot in. They’re recognized for having actually huge homes—very extravagant. I’m not likely extravagant.”
Although Taylor and Mayci haven’t watched The Actual Housewives of Salt Lake Metropolis, they’ve met a pair solid members across the SLC space. “I met Jennie [Nguyen]. She was on it for one season after which received kicked off,” Mayci mentioned. Taylor added, “I met one who was kicked off as properly. Darkish lengthy hair? I feel I met her too.”
Mayci continued, “I’ve seen one other one at an influencer occasion. I feel it was Meredith [Marks]. Darkish, lengthy hair, and she or he’s nonetheless on the present. There are two that look actually much like me, and I can’t inform them aside. [Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-star] Jessi [Ngatikaura] does a few of their hair, so she’s extra the lady you’d need to ask.”
Taylor, Mayci, and Jessi are three of eight solid members on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Hulu’s Actual Housewives-esque actuality present following a bunch of Mormon (and ex-Mormon) TikTok mothers—often called #MomTok—as they navigate friendships, marriages, pressures from the church, and the drama that comes with every thing in between.
Although Bravo didn’t assume Taylor had sufficient drama to be a Salt Lake Metropolis Housewife, Hulu (and followers) actually disagree. The primary season arguably revolved round Taylor—who has essentially the most followers in MomTok—and the fallout of her “smooth swinging” scandal, which went viral in 2022 when Taylor revealed in a TikTok that she and her then-husband, Tate Paul, had been swingers. The controversy led Taylor to file for divorce from Tate that very same 12 months and ultimately meet her now-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
If her life wasn’t dramatic sufficient, Taylor was additionally arrested in 2023 for home violence following a struggle with Dakota, who she welcomed a child with in March 2024. However the drama didn’t cease there. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 1 finale ended on a cliffhanger with Mayci calling Jenna, a lady Dakota was accused of dishonest on Taylor with. Simply as Jenna was about to inform her aspect of the story. The display screen reduce to black. So what occurred subsequent? Effectively, if The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is renewed for a second season, Taylor and Mayci guarantee that the Jenna drama shall be the very first thing addressed.
Now that the present is out, have both of you acquired any indignant texts out of your solid mates due to one thing you mentioned on the present that they didn’t learn about?
Mayci: There’s positively drama occurring behind the scenes with solid members within the present, however not that particular state of affairs. There’s lots occurring. However I feel for some folks, watching the edit again was more durable than others.
Are you able to say who?
Mayci: I feel you’ll be able to in all probability guess.
I need to transfer onto that cliffhanger. Mayci, what are you able to say about that cellphone name with Jenna and what occurred after that we didn’t see?
Mayci: I actually can’t say something. My lips are sealed. It has to attend for Season 2, however positively was cliffhanger. Let’s put it that method.
What was your response to Mayci calling Jenna?
Taylor: I used to be superb with it. For those who’re an individual that has nothing to cover, there’s nothing to fret about there. Anybody that was anxious in that state of affairs, it’s form of like, “Oh, what do it’s a must to lose?”
Mayci: They reduce it out of the present, however we had a dialog. She was like, “Yeah, I don’t care when you name her.” That was reduce out, so it wasn’t me going rogue simply calling Jenna. I had her full permission to do this.
I feel lots of people are questioning who’s Jenna.
Taylor: She is so irrelevant to my life, however so related on the similar time. She was only a lady. It’s not even her. It’s the sentiments that got here together with it at the moment. Mainly, Dakota relationship each of us, mendacity and ending up at her home, t makes me really feel nugatory, unloved, not ok. I used to be so open at the moment and in such a low time in my life. That’s how one can get me triggered. Simply ask me these questions. On the finish of the day, it’s only a lady I’m butthurt over. It has nothing to do together with her. It’s a timeline difficulty.
Would you movie with Jenna if there was a Season 2?
Taylor: Yeah, I don’t assume I’d have a alternative, actually. I’d like to. I’ve some issues to say however I’ll simply maintain that. We gotta look forward to if there’s one other season.
If there’s somebody who’s been talked about essentially the most from the present, it’s Whitney. Mayci, I do know you and Whitney had been each at The Bachelorette “Males Inform All.” The place do you each stand with Whitney at the moment?
Taylor: I don’t even care if the lady hates me. I like Whitney, and I truly texted her this the opposite day. I’m like, “I do know you’re going by way of it. I do know you’re getting dragged by way of the mud proper now, however you had been the one lady that reached out to me once I was at my lowest, and so for that, I’ll at all times be right here for you.” I don’t actually care what she says behind my again or something as a result of she was the one lady that helped me out of a darkish place.
Mayci: I’d say we’re nonetheless… I don’t know. We went to The Bachelorette collectively, and it was superb. We’re nonetheless buddies, however she has been doing a little attention-grabbing issues on-line, which aren’t cool. I don’t know the place I stand together with her proper now. To be trustworthy, I assumed we had been chill, however possibly we’re not. I did attain out to her when the present got here out to verify in on her, and she or he didn’t reply. However then she’s bringing beef to the web, so I actually don’t know the place we stand, to be trustworthy.
What did she do?
Mayci: She was simply posting private texts between the 2 of us, which could be very slimy and never OK to do. It’s actually invasive to submit private messages. It was attention-grabbing as a result of it actually didn’t show her level. It proved mine when she posted them. Mainly, as a result of in my interviews, I mentioned that she wasn’t there. She didn’t textual content me or name me the evening of my occasion in any respect, and she or he didn’t. She tried to submit receipts, however she doesn’t present the highest date on the receipt. She didn’t textual content me that evening, so I don’t know what she was attempting to show.
Is she part of the group chat once more?
Mayci: Nope.
Does the group chat nonetheless exist?
Mayci: Yup. And it’s very lively proper now. I can promise you that.
I used to be stunned nobody grilled Whitney extra concerning the Tinder story together with her husband and whether or not or not he truly met up with somebody. What do you concentrate on that story?
Taylor: It’s laborious to say as a result of I’m not in that state of affairs, however I’m a nosy individual. I wish to know each element. That’s in all probability what messes me up in my head. I’d have wished to know much more. So once I requested her on movie, “Did he hang around with anybody?” I’d need to know every thing. She was one which didn’t need to know and that’s OK. To every their very own. However for me, I feel we had been all simply desirous to know extra. As a result of I feel you’ll be able to form of navigate your choice if extra . However that’s my private choice.
Mayci: I’m in all probability the identical with that. She mentioned she didn’t dig too deep into it. That’s her personal private choice. She determined I’m staying with him, and actually, Connor is a really good, real man. It was a state of affairs the place it’s like, if that’s what makes you content and also you’re good with every thing and never figuring out, then good for you.
Do you assume Whitney would come again for Season 2?
Taylor: It’s laborious to say.
Mayci: She alters her thoughts on a regular basis. I guess this week it’s no. Perhaps in two weeks, it’s sure, It relies upon.
One thing else that was talked about a lot from the present was the Fruity Pebbles story with Demi. The way in which it’s proven leaves a variety of room for interpretation. So are you able to make clear what the actual Fruity Pebbles story is?
Taylor: I’m maintaining that one in my sleeve if she comes at me. As a result of if she ever does, I’ll be like, “Will we need to discuss Fruity Pebbles?”
Mayci: She’s sworn us to secrecy on that one. I’m maintaining that one up my sleeve too if I must. I’ve had relations ask, “Simply inform me.” I’m like, “I ain’t saying nothing.”
Have you ever seen any theories on the web which can be right?
Mayci: Not but, truly, I don’t assume I’ve seen one the place they received it proper. There’s this one lady who was like, “They’re Mormons and so they’re actually vanilla, so it should simply imply this.” I used to be like, “No, child. That’s not what it’s. Not even shut, honey.”
Across the time the trailer got here out, the church of Latter Day Saints issued a press release on the present. What was your response to that?
Taylor: It was form of annoying as a result of they hadn’t seen it but. So that they’re judging us earlier than they even see the present. Nevertheless it wasn’t stunning on the similar time. For some cause I felt this was gonna occur.
Mayci: I really feel like they needed to say one thing as a result of everybody was freaking out on-line. They needed to do one thing to place out the fires. I did like how they had been like, “Come to us for assets within the church.” As a result of, sure, we’re not attempting to be spokespeople or mouthpieces. We’re simply filming this present that occurs to have a title with Mormon in it. I don’t assume anybody’s actually anxious. It was somewhat bit like, “OK, we’re judging a e-book by its cowl.” However I feel as soon as they watch the present too, they’ll notice, the church isn’t the present, like, it’s sprinkled in. Faith is concerned in our lives, however the present is just not about being Mormon.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is out there to stream on Hulu.