Texas Democrat James Talarico, a self-proclaimed devout Christian and US Senate hopeful, is under fire for following a slew of provocative Instagram accounts.
This controversy, unearthed by Axios and amplified by the New York Post, centers on Talarico, a four-term state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, whose online activity seems to clash with the faith-driven image he’s carefully crafted, as Daily Mail reports.
Talarico, 36, joined the Texas Legislature in 2018 at just 28, after a stint as a teacher, quickly building a reputation as a religious lawmaker who isn’t shy about critiquing what he calls “Christian nationalism.”
With a massive social media presence—think millions of views on his speech clips—Talarico follows about 3,700 accounts on Instagram, a handful of which belong to adult film stars, OnlyFans models, and even profiles linked to escort services.
Among them is adult actress Giselle Palmer, known online as “honky tonk angel,” whom Talarico still followed as of a recent Saturday night, according to reports.
Earlier this year, he liked several posts from an Austin-based account tied to both an OnlyFans page and a site branded as a top platform in the escort industry—hardly the kind of content one expects from a seminarian.
The plot thickens with a reported interaction with OnlyFans model Alice Greczyn, who tagged Talarico in a story, prompting a brief exchange where he responded with a polite “Thank you, Alice!” as reported by the New York Post.
His campaign insists this was a one-off, claiming it was merely a gesture of appreciation for what seemed like support for his political work.
“The social media team - including James - follows back and engages with supporters who have large followings and does not investigate their backgrounds,” said JT Ennis, Talarico’s spokesperson, in a statement to Axios. Well, that’s a convenient dodge—shouldn’t a public figure, especially one wearing faith on their sleeve, exercise a bit more discretion?
Ennis also doubled down, stating, “While James was unaware of how these women make money, he does not judge them for it and will not play into an effort to smear them for clickbait articles.” Fair enough on avoiding judgment, but isn’t there a line between tolerance and turning a blind eye to optics?
Talarico’s public persona as a man of faith—often vocal about his Christian values—makes this digital dalliance a tough pill to swallow for many conservatives who value consistency between belief and behavior.
While his campaign argues he’s never subscribed to explicit services like OnlyFans, the mere association through follows and likes raises questions about whether personal conduct aligns with public messaging.
Interestingly, Talarico has earned high praise from unexpected corners, with figures like former President Barack Obama calling him “terrific” and a “really talented young man,” and even Joe Rogan suggesting he’s presidential material for being a “good person.”
That’s high acclaim, but it only sharpens the paradox—how does a man lauded for moral character reconcile with social media habits that, at best, seem naive and, at worst, hypocritical to traditional values?
Ultimately, this saga isn’t just about Instagram follows; it’s a reminder of the tightrope public figures walk in an era where every click is scrutinized. For conservatives wary of progressive agendas creeping into personal ethics, Talarico’s situation is a cautionary tale about authenticity in politics.
