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She was the identify on everybody’s lips on the primary season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, however earlier than she grew to become 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 forged mate, Mayci Neeley. “However that’s OK as a result of now I’ve this present.”
Nevertheless, Taylor suspects that the shortage of drama in her life wasn’t the one cause she wouldn’t have made a superb Housewife. “There was an curiosity there. That’s why I interviewed, however I additionally don’t assume I might have slot in. They’re recognized for having actually huge homes—very extravagant. I’m probably not extravagant.”
Although Taylor and Mayci haven’t watched The Actual Housewives of Salt Lake Metropolis, they’ve met a pair forged members across the SLC space. “I met Jennie [Nguyen]. She was on it for one season after which acquired kicked off,” Mayci stated. 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 he or she’s nonetheless on the present. There are two that look actually just 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 wish to ask.”
Taylor, Mayci, and Jessi are three of eight forged 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—generally known as #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) definitely disagree. The primary season arguably revolved round Taylor—who has probably the most followers in MomTok—and the fallout of her “comfortable swinging” scandal, which went viral in 2022 when Taylor revealed in a TikTok that she and her then-husband, Tate Paul, have been swingers. The controversy led Taylor to file for divorce from Tate that very same yr and finally 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 girl Dakota was accused of dishonest on Taylor with. Simply as Jenna was about to inform her facet of the story. The display screen minimize to black. So what occurred subsequent? Nicely, if The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is renewed for a second season, Taylor and Mayci guarantee that the Jenna drama can be the very first thing addressed.
Now that the present is out, have both of you acquired any indignant texts out of your forged mates due to one thing you stated on the present that they didn’t learn about?
Mayci: There’s positively drama occurring behind the scenes with forged members within the present, however not that particular scenario. There’s loads occurring. However I feel for some individuals, watching the edit again was tougher than others.
Are you able to say who?
Mayci: I feel you may most likely guess.
I wish 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 a superb cliffhanger. Let’s put it that approach.
What was your response to Mayci calling Jenna?
Taylor: I used to be advantageous with it. When you’re an individual that has nothing to cover, there’s nothing to fret about there. Anybody that was nervous in that scenario, it’s type of like, “Oh, what do it’s important to lose?”
Mayci: They minimize it out of the present, however we had a dialog. She was like, “Yeah, I don’t care in the event you name her.” That was minimize out, so it wasn’t me going rogue simply calling Jenna. I had her full permission to try this.
I feel lots of people are questioning who’s Jenna.
Taylor: She is so irrelevant to my life, however so related on the identical time. She was only a lady. It’s not even her. It’s the sentiments that got here together with it at the moment. Principally, Dakota relationship each of us, mendacity and ending up at her home, t makes me really feel nugatory, unloved, not adequate. 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 challenge.
Would you movie with Jenna if there was a Season 2?
Taylor: Yeah, I don’t assume I’d have a alternative, truthfully. I might like to. I’ve some issues to say however I’ll simply maintain that. We gotta watch for if there’s one other season.
If there’s somebody who’s been talked about probably the most from the present, it’s Whitney. Mayci, I do know you and Whitney have been each at The Bachelorette “Males Inform All.” The place do you each stand with Whitney immediately?
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 via it. I do know you’re getting dragged via the mud proper now, however you have been the one lady that reached out to me once I was at my lowest, and so for that, I’ll all the time 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 might say we’re nonetheless… I don’t know. We went to The Bachelorette collectively, and it was advantageous. We’re nonetheless pals, however she has been performing some fascinating issues on-line, which aren’t cool. I don’t know the place I stand together with her proper now. To be sincere, I assumed we have been chill, however perhaps we’re not. I did attain out to her when the present got here out to examine in on her, and he or she didn’t reply. However then she’s bringing beef to the web, so I actually don’t know the place we stand, to be sincere.
What did she do?
Mayci: She was simply posting private texts between the 2 of us, which may be very slimy and never OK to do. It’s actually invasive to put up private messages. It was fascinating as a result of it actually didn’t show her level. It proved mine when she posted them. Principally, as a result of in my interviews, I stated that she wasn’t there. She didn’t textual content me or name me the evening of my occasion in any respect, and he or she didn’t. She tried to put up 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 making an attempt 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 energetic proper now. I can promise you that.
I used to be shocked nobody grilled Whitney extra in regards to the Tinder story together with her husband and whether or not or not he truly met up with somebody. What do you consider that story?
Taylor: It’s onerous to say as a result of I’m not in that scenario, however I’m a nosy individual. I prefer to know each element. That’s most likely what messes me up in my head. I might have wished to know much more. So once I requested her on movie, “Did he hang around with anybody?” I might wish to know every thing. She was one which didn’t wish to know and that’s OK. To every their very own. However for me, I feel we have been all simply eager to know extra. As a result of I feel you may type of navigate your choice if you realize extra you realize. However that’s my private choice.
Mayci: I’m most likely the identical with that. She stated she didn’t dig too deep into it. That’s her personal private choice. She determined I’m staying with him, and truthfully, Connor is a really good, real man. It was a scenario the place it’s like, if that’s what makes you cheerful and also you’re good with every thing and never realizing, then good for you.
Do you assume Whitney would come again for Season 2?
Taylor: It’s onerous to say.
Mayci: She alters her thoughts on a regular basis. I wager 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 true Fruity Pebbles story is?
Taylor: I’m retaining that one in my sleeve if she comes at me. As a result of if she ever does, I’ll be like, “Will we wish to discuss Fruity Pebbles?”
Mayci: She’s sworn us to secrecy on that one. I’m retaining 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 might be right?
Mayci: Not but, truly, I don’t assume I’ve seen one the place they acquired it proper. There’s this one lady who was like, “They’re Mormons they usually’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 type 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 identical 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 have been like, “Come to us for sources within the church.” As a result of, sure, we’re not making an attempt 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 nervous. It was somewhat bit like, “OK, we’re judging a guide 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.
