It's no secret that TikTok has had a major influence on pop culture since its inception. From trends to TV shows like The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the short-form video app has majorly influenced what's cool and who's Now, TLC is jumping on the TikTok bandwagon with their latest show, Baylen Out Loud about the social media star Baylen Dupree.
Who is Baylen Dupree?
Baylen Dupree is a 22-year-old TikTok star with over 9 million followers and who showcases her life with Tourette Syndrome. According to PEOPLE, Baylen experienced tics from a young age, but wasn't officially diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome until 2020, shortly before she turned 18.
The TikTok star shared that living with an increasingly high number of tics from her Tourette Syndrome combined with being in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was hard to deal with and she struggled with feeling lonely and isolated because of the uncontrollable tics paired with the fact that she was stuck at home.
"It went from like 10 tics a day to 40 tics a day. And then COVID happened and it went from 40 tics a day to 500 tics a day. It was isolating, it was depressing," she told PEOPLE in 2023.
She shared that not only was it hard to do day-to-day tasks, but socializing with others while she was still adapting to her new diagnosis was nearly impossible and it made her feelings of isolation and depression worse. She told the publication, "From accidentally slapping my ex-boyfriend in the face to accidentally hitting my mom with a frying pan. It had been a whirlwind of emotions trying to accept it."
Baylen first joined TikTok in 2021, a year after she was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, and has been sharing glimpses of her life on the social media app to millions of followers since then. Along with raising awareness for Tourette Syndrome, Baylen shares humorous looks into her life and some of her more funny and iconic tics, like saying "wind it up."
What is Baylen Out Loud going to be about?
The synopsis shared by TLC for the show says, "Baylen Out Loud will inspire audiences as they watch Baylen push herself outside her comfort zone in pursuit of the independent life she’s always dreamed of. After years of feeling self-conscious about her condition, Baylen is finally ready to live freely, embracing her authentic self and showing the world that Tourette doesn’t define her. With the support of her family and friends, Baylen is ready to stretch her wings."
According to PEOPLE, Baylen Out Loud will be similar to her TikTok, where she shares a look at her life with Tourette Syndrome alongside her siblings, parents, and boyfriend. This time, she'll be sharing everything on TV instead of in short videos filmed on her phone for the internet.
Fun, fearless, and living out loud: With her family at her side, Baylen Dupree embraces life while managing Tourette Syndrome. The new TLC series #BaylenOutLoud premieres Monday, January 13 at 9/8c. pic.twitter.com/IBwUBWH3a2
— TLC Network (@TLC) December 3, 2024
But, in true reality TV fashion, the show will also feature its fair share of drama alongside Baylen's humorous struggles with blurting out tics like "I'm pregnant" in front of her boyfriend's parents.
Baylen, who is 22, shared that she's interested in moving out of her parents' house in order to gain independence as a young adult. As if wanting to move out while struggling with a relatively new Tourette Syndrome diagnosis wasn't already hard enough, it's also revealed in the trailer for the show that Baylen's boyfriend, Colin, is joining the United States Air Force and may be relocated anywhere in the country.
According to Howard Lee, President of TLC and Discovery Networks, Baylen's outspoken and candid attitude about her rare neurological disorder is exactly what made her the perfect fit for a show at TLC -- and her nearly 10 million TikTok followers proves that he's not wrong in that analysis. In a statement shared by Lee, he said, " fearless honesty about living with Tourette Syndrome not only busts stereotypes but also builds bridges of understanding. At TLC, we stay committed to showcasing stories that resonate deeply with our audience, and Baylen's journey is the perfect blend of heart and mission."
Baylen Out Loud premieres on January 13 at 9/8c on TLC.