Taylor Frankie Paul may be excited about her new gig as the star of ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” but that doesn’t mean everyone is feeling the same way. In fact, after news broke that the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” reality star would be the frontwoman of the upcoming season, the announcement was met with some backlash as many fans of the show questioned whether Paul was the right fit. And the skepticism didn’t just come from everyday online users. Joy Behar, cohost of “The View,” also discussed the bold casting move and wondered whether the 31-year-old would actually find love.
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Joy Behar Throws Shade At Taylor Frankie Paul Being The Frontwoman For The New Season Of ‘The Bachelorette’
On an episode of “The View,” as reported by PEOPLE, Behar spoke about the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” and also shared her thoughts on Paul’s casting.
For those unfamiliar, Paul has been a controversial public figure since 2024. She first rose to fame as the breakout star of Hulu’s hit series, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” However, most knew of her before the show, specifically because of her massive following on TikTok, which, by the way, skyrocketed after news that she was part of a swinging group went viral.
Paul has two kids with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, and one child with her most recent ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. But the drama in her life doesn’t just stop there. She was also arrested in February 2023 after an argument between her and Mortensen turned violent.
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Considering the facts, Behar admitted she was skeptical about the new season of the popular dating show. “She has three kids and two baby daddies,” said Behar. “Will these bachelors line up to be baby daddy number three?”
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Taylor Frankie Paul Knows She’s Different From The Others
While Paul hasn’t addressed Behar’s comments directly, the reality star seemed to be aware that some people might be skeptical about her appearance as America’s next golden girl.
On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, she questioned how it would all play out. “How do I make this work?” she asked. “I’m a co-parent, I have to baby daddies—not one. So, I’m dealing with two different people; my home base is here. Can I travel that long? Can I be gone that long?”
The details about Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” are still underway. However, she said during her time on “Good Morning America” that she’s looking for something very specific in her forever partner.
“How you treat people is my No. 1,” she said. “Down to things like, someone in passing by, your neighbor or your server.”
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The outspoken reality star also opened up about potentially connecting with someone outside of the Mormon faith, explaining that she’s willing to learn about different religions.
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Fans Have Concerns About Paul’s Spot As ABC’s Next Golden Girl
And Behar wasn’t the only person who was critical about Paul’s position as the next star of “The Bachelor” franchise. On Reddit, several users wrote similar messages, with one writing, “I can’t believe this is real. I saw it in the BB thread, but I thought they were joking.”
Another user said ABC’s choice is “absolutely insane” before calling it “the nail in the coffin.” Someone else chimed in and urged Paul to reconsider her decision about going on the show. “Girl, focus on yourself,” they wrote. “Your kids. Be alone.”
They continued, “I can’t imagine how kids of people who’ve had so much of their dirty laundry posted online for views will be as teens and adults.”
Some Viewers Had Taylor Frankie Paul’s Back
On Instagram, however, Paul was met with much love, as several commenters wrote about how her casting would “revive” a dying franchise.
“Whoever pitched her as the next Bachelorette was a marketing genius,” a user shared. “Reviving a dying franchise with a young and fresh feel. I’ll actually watch this season for her. Bravo.”
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Paul Says Her Ex-Boyfriend Learned About ‘The Bachelor’ With The Rest Of The World
According to a previous report from The Blast, Paul addressed how her ex-boyfriend, Mortensen, who’s had a major presence on “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” would feel about her as the lead of the “Bachelorette.”
“I have not confirmed it with him. So I don’t know if he knows or if he knew I had the opportunity. So he’ll know Wednesday,” she said before admitting her ex knew she was dating and seeing other people. “I think that’s the hardest part is when you see their first dating or hookup or whatever it is. That’s gonna always take a toll no matter what,” she added.
