As a new season of “The Bachelorette” kicks off this upcoming winter, this year comes with a twist, as reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul has been announced as the bachelorette for this season. This is the first time in the franchise’s history that a bachelorette has not been on a previous season of “The Bachelor.”
Following the announcement, many longtime “The Bachelor” fans expressed disappointment with this year’s choice, particularly given Paul’s history. She first went viral in 2022 as the founder of ‘MomTok,’ a collective of Mormon wives in Utah split into “Saints and Sinners.” The group later landed its own reality series, “Secret Life of Mormon Wives”, which premiered in 2024. Since then, however, Paul has faced negative publicity tied to her personal life, leading some fans to question whether she is too unstable to take on the role.
Although many people are not happy with the choice the franchise made, it will bring excitement to the show that it has been lacking for many seasons now. Rumors circulated that the hit show might not return for good after the season was canceled in 2025 due to declining viewership. This is a good way to make the show enjoyable and bring fans back. Not only will it attract “The Bachelor” fans, but it will also draw ‘MomTok’ and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” fans eager to watch how Paul’s journey unfolds on the show.
After the past season was canceled, the producers had to make changes to bring a spark back into the show, as many of the rumored candidates were not from any previous season and were all well-known reality TV stars. Most people live for reality TV, including me, so I don’t see a problem with bringing someone like Taylor Frankie Paul onto the show, as it will be a new experience for everyone.
To be direct, I think it struggles with people having issues with ‘MomTok’ and the slander and backlash that all the members receive. Whitney Levitt and Jen Affleck, both members of the group, happened to be on this year’s season of “Dancing With the Stars” and garnered many unhappy opinions, so it was no different when the announcement of Paul’s participation came out.
Regardless of the drama-filled last year of Paul’s life, which included the recent birth of her third child with her now-ex-boyfriend, I believe this season of “The Bachelorette” will be one of the best yet, simply because of the drama and chaos she will bring. The possible contestants will also not be entering it blindly, having some idea of who she is and her past, which could add some excitement to it. In fact, despite many fans saying they would not be watching, this is expected to be one of the most-watched seasons in years.
