Jamie Otis Guides Daughter in Coping with Bullies Through Taylor Swift’s Music
Married at First Sight alum Jamie Otis took inspiration from Taylor Swift to support her daughter in confronting a bully.
The MAFS star, 39, shared a heartwarming TikTok on Thursday, August 28, featuring herself and her daughter Henley Grace, 8, lip-syncing to Swift’s 2019 song “I Forgot That You Existed” as part of Jamie’s lesson on how to handle bullies and negative people.
In the video’s caption, Jamie provided context about Henley Grace — affectionately nicknamed “Gracie” by the family — who recently expressed concerns about another classmate singling her out during class.
“My daughter was in tears because there’s a girl who doesn’t like her,” Jamie shared. “This girl told her (in front of everyone) that she ‘hates’ sitting next to her.”
Jamie admitted, “Initially, I wanted to yell for my daughter and tell her that girl is just being mean…but I maintained my composure and calmly said, ‘That’s okay. Not everyone will like you. You should still be kind to her, but you can politely keep your distance and be with friends who appreciate you!’ Henley cried and said, ‘But she called me annoying and loud in front of everyone! I wasn’t trying to be!’”
Henley Grace joined her mom in lip-syncing crucial lines from “I Forgot That You Existed” to help contextualize her bullying experience. They performed: “I forgot that you existed / And I thought that it would kill me, but it didn’t / And it was so nice.”
When a follower remarked that “there’s a song for everything,” Jamie responded, “Taylor never lets us down.”
Other commenters praised Jamie’s calm and respectful approach to a tough situation, while also sharing their own tips for handling bullying.
“It’s so challenging for girls to maintain their spark,” one fan noted. “School often dulls it over time. With bullying and social drama, it’s tough. I hope she stays bright and proud! You’re doing great to help her keep that alive!! ✨ Good job, mama!”
Another viewer added, “Raising intelligent, kind, and happy children is vital. It’s hard work because parents must be actively involved. Thank you for loving your kids. They are your gift to the universe.”
Jamie and her husband Doug Hehner met during the first season of MAFS and tied the knot in March 2014. They are parents to Henley Grace, son Hendrix Douglas, 5, and twins Hawkins Tyler and Huxley James, who are 11 months old.
Following the twins’ arrival in September 2024, Jamie honestly shared how hard it was to tell them apart. In a YouTube vlog, she held Hawkins on her lap and highlighted some distinguishing features.
“There are a couple of clear indicators,” Jamie explained in January. “First is this little boy’s nose, which has a red spot right there — our best identifying factor.”
Her husband Doug, 41, noted that Huxley’s “elvish” ears point “more sharply than Hawkins’” and also identified a red mark on one of Huxley’s legs.
“Those are the only ways we can tell them apart,” Jamie revealed. “Especially since [Hawkins] is getting chubbier. He was small for a while, but now he’s filling out nicely. His face is becoming as round as Huxley’s, making it really tough to distinguish them. They look very similar.”
The former Married at First Sight: The First Year cast member previously spoke out in May against public backlash towards breastfeeding moms.
“I’m always amazed by how many people get offended by a mother breastfeeding,” she expressed via Instagram. “A woman FEEDING her baby — however she chooses — deserves support. No questions asked.”
Jamie clarified that she was combo-feeding the twins, using both natural breast milk and infant formula.
“Breastfeeding is the most natural way to nurture your infant, yet I’m sure I’ll receive comments about how inappropriate it is to pump breast milk in the car line or nurse my twins in public,” she lamented. “The reason society frowns upon breastfeeding in front of others is simply that they don’t see it often enough. A century ago, no one would have batted an eye because that was the standard way to nourish a baby.”
After sharing her own breastfeeding journey, Jamie expressed hope that her message would “normalize the most natural way a mother can feed her baby.”
