Hagen Bach gives Jordan Natikaula a point of confidence.
The “Vanderpump Villa” star reacted to Ngati Kaula’s recent AI Photoshop mishap after the “Mormon Wife Secrets” personality was accused of sharing a digitally altered version of a promotional image released by the Food Network for its “100 Chefs” series.
Bach, who discovered Ngātikaula while filming Season 3 of Hulu’s hit reality show, admitted he wasn’t exactly Ngātikaula’s biggest fan, but he couldn’t help but admire the sheer audacity behind the controversial edit.
“Honestly, they were just dads,” Bach exclusively told Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” about the husbands, boyfriends and exes of “Mormon Wives” (collectively known as #DadTok) who appeared on an episode of “Vanderpump Villa.”
“Some of them think Jordan is obviously annoying. He was…talking about what his show was like and all this kind of stuff.”
Still, Bach couldn’t help but laugh at the online frenzy surrounding Natikaula’s supposedly AI-enhanced photo.
“Have you seen the AI?” he asked. “It was symbolic in a way. I think you have to do what you have to do.”
The reality star then jokingly praised Ngatikaula’s unwavering confidence.
“He’s very paranoid,” Bach added with a laugh. “But I like that fantasy. You know what? It honestly inspires me.”
He continued, “What if, for example, he thinks he’s the king of the world and he can turn his face into an AI and no one will notice? I love that. He’s a visionary.”
The altered image sparked widespread discussion online after fans compared it to the original promotional photo distributed by the Food Network. Bach did not hold back when asked for his opinion on this unedited version.
“It was really bad,” he said frankly.
Director Bach may have been frustrated with Ngatikaula during filming, but there was at least one member of #DadTok who left a lasting positive impression.
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The reality TV personality said his favorite is Macy Neely’s husband, Jacob Neely.
“I really loved Mace’s husband, Jacob,” Bach said. “He’s a sweet guy. In my opinion, he’s the coolest guy. He’s like a father figure to me.”
Bach said that beyond his looks, Jacob stood out because he seemed sincere.
“And he was very sweet and very genuine,” Bach continued. “He was just talking about how good their relationship was, so I really liked him.”
“Vanderpump Villa” is now available on Hulu.
