TikTok personality Jenna Palek has sparked a fierce online debate after appearing to stage an elaborate photoshoot with her boyfriend at a friend's wedding. The influencer, known for her social media content, is facing accusations of being 'tacky' and disrespectful for turning part of the couple's big day into a personal photo opportunity.
The 'Full Photoshoot' That Caused Outrage
Palek, who has been in a relationship with The Bachelorette alumnus Connor Saeli since 2021, shared a carousel of images to her Instagram earlier this week. The pictures, set against the backdrop of a luxurious wedding venue, showed the couple in a series of intimately posed shots. Palek wore a striking one-shouldered red satin dress, while Saeli opted for a simple suit.
The images captured the pair walking through grand halls, dancing, and descending a lavish staircase. Palek captioned the post 'I love love,' but the sentiment was lost on many viewers who felt the activity was inappropriate for a wedding guest.
Social Media Backlash and 'Cringe' Accusations
The criticism quickly migrated to Reddit, where users dissected the post. One central question emerged: 'Is it not weird to have a whole photoshoot with multiple locations at your friend's wedding?' The original poster argued the shots looked more like an engagement session than casual snaps.
The sentiment was widely echoed in the comments. 'I think what’s weird is the different locations and so many posed/"candid" pics,' one user wrote. Others questioned the logistics, asking who she had to 'beg' to take all the pictures and why she had so much time away from the festivities. Many labelled the act as 'cringe' and suggested the focus should have been on the bride and groom.
Key criticisms from social media users included:
- Using multiple locations at the wedding for personal photos.
- The highly posed, professional-looking nature of the images.
- Diverting attention and time away from celebrating the married couple.
- Appearing to prioritise content for social media over being present at the event.
Palek and Saeli's Relationship Background
The controversy puts a spotlight on Palek's relationship with Connor Saeli. Saeli was a contestant on season 15 of The Bachelorette in 2019 and later appeared on Bachelor in Paradise, though he left that show early. Despite being together for four years, Palek recently revealed in a TikTok comment that they have a traditional approach to holidays, noting, 'We never spend Christmas together and we won't until we are married.'
In a pinned Instagram post, Palek has described Saeli as 'incredibly humble, ambitious, thoughtful, silly, creative, loving and my bestest friend.' However, she also claims to keep their relationship relatively private, stating, 'We don't share much of our personal lives as I keep my socials focused on me.' This latest incident, however, suggests to critics that the line between private life and public content has been blurred at a friend's expense.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between social media influencers' desire to create content and real-world etiquette. While many fans defended the couple's romantic pictures, the overwhelming backlash serves as a reminder that certain occasions are widely considered off-limits for personal branding exercises.
