The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mikayla Matthews has responded to being labeled a “snake friend” by Taylor Frankie Paul.
Matthews, 26, in the comment section of a fan video discussing the issue, stated, “Could probably write a book on everything I’ve had to say on this. Nothing I said denied that she’s experienced pain, trauma, or difficult things, there’s literally no question about that,” referring to Paul. She emphasized that “Two things can be true. Someone can be hurting and still hurt people around them in the process.” This was shared via Instagram on Sunday, May 10.
Matthews clarified that she “never” wished for Paul to “fail, suffer, or be canceled,” explaining her decision as a refusal to participate in or normalize a harmful cycle affecting those around, especially when involving children and repeated violence.
Additionally, Matthews addressed Paul’s claims of being betrayed by friends.
She rejected the “bad friends and snake friends” narrative, stating, “What also won’t fly with me is the bad friends and snake friends narrative. Especially when so many of us spent years putting genuine care, time, energy, and emotional labor into trying to support her through incredibly toxic situations.” Matthews recalled the efforts made to support Paul during her ventures, such as participating in The Bachelorette, even at personal cost.
Matthews also shared her own struggles, confirming her separation from husband Jace Terry during the fourth season of Mormon Wives and her relocation to Hawaii for health reasons. Matthews and Terry, 30, have four children together.
She lamented the sacrifices made to support Paul, only to feel diminished in the process. “To take years out of our lives, time away from our families, from our own mental sanity, from our own healing, from many of our own ‘Mother’s Day’ moments, to put a friend and their trauma first out of genuine friendship and care, just to have it diminished and shat on while it gets chalked up to an attitude of ‘I can do what I want and say whatever I want’ while it is hurting people around them is toxic and destructive behavior,” Matthews argued. “Compassion cannot only exist when it benefits one person.”
Despite the current tension, Matthews expressed well wishes for Paul, asserting, “I have not once attacked her character or tried to tear her down the way everyone so badly want people to believe I have.” She acknowledged Paul’s love for her kids and wished for her happiness and healing.
The ongoing rift between Matthews and Paul has drawn attention since fans accused Matthews of lacking support for Paul and their costar Jessi Draper. Paul’s legal troubles, involving domestic disputes with her ex Dakota Mortensen, and Draper’s ongoing divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura have kept the trio in headlines.
Paul responded on social media, calling Matthews a “snake friend” as she expressed frustration over being criticized by friends during difficult times. “It’s Mother’s Day so I’ll say whatever I want. As if it’s not already the worst time. I have [sic] STILL have ‘friends’ kicking me while I’m already down and calling it ‘setting a boundary’ and then BLAMES ME for being upset and responding,” she wrote on Instagram. “That’s called shaming and attack while I had a moment to breathe and she knew that.”
Paul further added, “Not once have [I] called myself a ‘victim’ but I’m HUMAN and have breaking points. What a snake friend just did to me in the public eye after everything she just witnessed … the lack of empathy and silence was loud enough.”
