Why Are We Still Rooting for Taylor Frankie Paul? Even When PR Criticizes Her.

There is just something about Taylor Frankie Paul that makes people want to stick around.

Even through the headlines, the scandals, and everything else. In a nutshell, this is why this situation is so complex, not just with Taylor Frankie Paul as a person, but as a brand too.

When there were rumors going around regarding Taylor Frankie Paul and her relationship with The Bachelorette, it was like a natural progression. They already had the audience, they already had the personality, and they already had a type of story that would work well with a reality-based show. It was a show that needed Taylor Frankie Paul, more than they let on. It is no secret that The Bachelorette has not been as culturally relevant as seen in previous years. Viewership has been declining. Recent leads have failed to create the level of excitement or buzz the show once relied on. The current landscape is moving towards faster, more unfiltered content, which is exactly where a reality-based show like Taylor Frankie Paul would succeed.

From a PR perspective, having a personality like Taylor Frankie Paul on this show would have:

  • Brought in a younger, more digital-first demographic

  • Created viral conversation beyond the traditional television viewer

  • Helped rebrand the show as more relevant and current

In many ways, she represented what the show needed: attention, unpredictability, and inherent interest.

The Kind of Influencer You Don’t Want to Look Away From

Taylor’s brand was never about being perfect. It was about being real, too real. From toxic relationships to family struggles and mental health challenges, her experiences feel familiar to many. It makes her relatable. This is why people support her. Not because she is perfect, but because she is not. In a digital environment where everything is staged and curated, she is the exception to the rule. And for many people, this is what keeps them tuning in.

When Real Life Becomes Too Real

But there is a limit to authenticity. One that television is keenly aware of.

As her life became more public and more complicated, the story began to change. It no longer seemed to be something she could control. And it is there that the opportunity became the risk.

Not for the question: “Will people watch?” 

But the question: “Can we control what they watch?”

And the answer to that question is no longer clear.

The Part That Feels Unfair

But when women live in the same space, the reaction is different. It is less forgiving. Taylor is no longer “interesting”, but a liability. And while this may be true in terms of public relations, it raises a larger question about the value of authenticity when it is deemed no longer desirable. 

Why People Still Stay

Despite everything, however, people have not totally turned their backs on her. That, in itself, is telling. It is telling of the power of emotional connection. People do not follow her for the content she provides. They follow her because of the emotional connection they have to her story.Ironically, this is precisely the type of connection The Bachelorette has been failing to create.

The PR Reality

From a PR perspective, the separation from The Bachelorette makes a great deal of sense.

Not only has she been bringing a level of attention, she has also been bringing a level of unpredictability that the program could not control.

PR is not about the level of attention. PR is about the right type of attention.

Takeaways 

What the Taylor Frankie Paul case points to is a broader tension in the world of media right now:

  • Traditional media like The Bachelorette needs relevance.

  • Influencers like Taylor need relevance too.

  • But when real life is just too complex to present neatly, even the most compelling narrative is too risky to present.

And perhaps that’s why people are rooting for her anyway: Because in a world of constructed reality, she wasn’t.

Emily Wolterink is a senior pursuing a degree in Advertising and Public Relations, set to graduate this May. She is eager to explore her next career opportunities in the Grand Rapids area. She is passionate about developing creative and strategic work while continuing to build meaningful connections within the industry.

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