Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen under investigation in Utah
According to reports, authorities are investigating the incident as a domestic incident involving Mormon Wives stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
ABC has canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette following backlash as the police investigation into the reality TV star and her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen continues.
“In light of the new video that was just released today, we have made the decision not to move forward with a new season of The Bachelorette at this time. We are focused on supporting our families,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson told USA TODAY on Thursday, March 19.
The revocation comes after police in the northern Utah city of Draper disclosed an ongoing “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen, both of whom reportedly denied the allegations.
Authorities contacted both parties on February 24 and 25, a spokesperson told the outlet. The “Secrets of a Mormon Wife” star is set to star on season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” making her the first star to direct a season despite dating 22 men and not appearing on “The Bachelor.”
Paul recently told People in a statement on Tuesday, March 17, that it was “heartbreaking to see that, to go through that, especially during this time.”
“It’s just difficult timing and that’s a big problem,” Paul told the magazine. “I feel like all the premieres I’ve been to, I’ve never fully enjoyed them. So this is another premiere…It’s been really hard and it took everything to get here today.”
Paul is the unofficial star of “Secrets of Mormon Wives,” which has exploded in popularity since its premiere in 2024, following several women who have dubbed themselves “MomTok.” She drew a large audience on social media when she acknowledged that another couple in the LDS Church was “gently rocking.”
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Mormon Wives for comment.
‘Mormon Wives’ season 5 production paused over Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic violence allegations
The investigation led to the suspension of production on Season 5 of The Mormons, Paul confirmed in an interview on Good Morning America on March 18th. Reality star Paul added that he doesn’t know how long the suspension will last.
“When your life is covered in these headlines, it feels like the end of the world. That’s how it feels. I’m not going to lie,” she said. “But I want to say, I’ve been here before, I’ve overcome it and shared my story… so I hope I can do it again.”
Co-star Mikayla Matthews addressed the pause in an Instagram Q&A on Thursday, March 19, saying, “This was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed upon,” adding, “We were nervous about filming everything that was going on.”
2023 video shows altercation allegedly involving Taylor Frankie Paul
TMZ leaked a 2023 video of an alleged argument between the former couple, which the outlet reported was being used as evidence in a domestic violence case. The video shows Paul screaming, punching and kicking Mortensen while he was recording, before pulling his hair and locking him in a headlock.
“Look, Taylor, this is all you have to do,” Mortensen says in the video. “This is no good.”
In the video, Paul can be heard throwing a metal bar stool at Mortensen, followed by the sound of a child, allegedly Paul’s daughter, crying. Then I heard Paul yell, “You did it!”
The rest of the video is hidden, but further movement and cries can be heard, including Paul’s daughter crying for her mother. At one point a doorbell is heard ringing, and then Mortensen speaks to someone who says, “What’s going on?” Paul replies, “Nothing,” but Mortensen says, “She’s been beaten.”
Contributed by: Taijuan Moorman, Edward Segarra, KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
