Allegations of domestic abuse have caused one hit reality show to stop filming and seem to have squashed an entire season of another. Taylor Frankie Paul is at the centre of both.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, who first rose to fame as a founding member of the “MomTok” squad, was allegedly involved in a February 2026 incident (or incidents) with her ex-boyfriend and co-parent, Dakota Mortensen, that led to a pause in filming.
Paul shares two children, Indy and Ocean, with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, and began dating Dakota Mortensen after her divorce in 2022. In February 2023, Mortensen and Paul got into a fight, and Paul was arrested; she later reached a plea deal, per Us Weekly. (More on that arrest below.) They stayed together and welcomed a son, Ever True, the following year, but were broken up by Christmas 2024. They appeared to be on and off throughout 2025—apparently including the night before Paul left to film The Bachelorette.
However, that season of The Bachelorette is no longer airing, as a disturbing video from that 2023 altercation went public ahead of the show’s scheduled premiere on March 22. “In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” ABC confirmed to Glamour in the late afternoon on March 19.
Here’s everything we know about the latest domestic violence allegations, with the most recent updates up top.
Taylor Frankie Paul is responding to comments amid the fallout
On March 20, TikTok creator Holden Smith made a video documenting Paul’s responses to multiple posts about the fallout, at one point defending herself for being on her phone by writing, “always on.. it’s my job..and yes I still have work.”
According to Smith’s screenshots, she also reposted supportive TikTok videos. “Why are you commenting back to people and reposting TikToks?” Smith asks in his TikTok post, suggesting she should take time off.
Paul then responded to Smith’s video, writing, “Want me to stare at a wall instead?”
Dakota Mortensen has reportedly been granted temporary custody of their son, Ever
According to People, a day after reportedly filing a protective order against Paul on 19 March, the courts have granted Mortensen temporary custody of their two-year-old son
Taylor Frankie Paul responds to ABC pulling her season of The Bachelorette
On March 20 a spokesperson for Paul thanks ABC for their support after the network pulls her season of The Bachelorette.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritises her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the rep said in a statement to People. “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Paul’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costars speak out
“I’m a little at a loss for words trying to process this all,” Miranda McWhorter wrote on her Instagram Story on March 20. Everything has been really heavy to see. Domestic violence and abuse of any kind is something I take very seriously. As a human, and especially a mother, I cannot support that kind of behavior. My heart is with the children in this and I hope they’re safe, supported, and surrounded by love.”