Hulu Sparks Online Backlash by Casting Non-LDS Influencers in New Spinoff

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From Utah to the O.C.: Why Hulu’s New 'Mormon Wives' Spinoff Has Fans Divided
Hulu is officially packing its bags and heading out west. The streaming giant is expanding its wildly popular The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives franchise with a brand-new Orange County spinoff—but the internet isn't entirely sold on the new zip code.
Trading the niche, tight-knit communities of Utah for the polished, sun-drenched world of California mega-influencers, the series is taking a sharp turn. The biggest concern among the fandom? The show might be trading the messy, "accidental" viral fame that made the original a hit for a manufactured influencer super-group.




Meet the "Big Three"
The controversy largely centers around the show's newly announced, heavily curated cast. Leading the pack are three major digital personalities:



Bobbi Althoff: The deadpan digital powerhouse is the biggest wild card. Her actual religious ties remain a major question mark, leading fans to suspect her casting is a strategic pivot toward generating viral, bite-sized clips rather than maintaining the show's original authenticity.


Aspyn Ovard: The veteran content creator is entering a highly anticipated "unfiltered" era. Fresh off a high-profile divorce, Ovard’s storyline promises heavy emotional lifting, but it remains to be seen how it fits the franchise's original mold.


Avery Woods: The former nurse turned lifestyle megastar rounds out the trio, bringing her massive following—and highly curated aesthetic—into the Hulu fold.





Content House or Reality TV?
With original breakout star Taylor Frankie Paul currently on hiatus, critics argue that the O.C. iteration feels less like a raw reality documentary and more like a high-stakes content house.
While the production value and star power are undeniably more professional, viewers are already mourning the loss of the genuine, trainwreck charm of the original cast. As the premiere approaches, fans are left asking one major question: Are we about to watch real, unscripted drama, or just a perfectly curated TikTok feed stretched into a television show?