The latest season of The Bachelorette may or may not be coming to a screen near you one day, but Taylor Frankie Paul isn’t heading to court over two domestic violence claims that saw the ABC reality show yanked from the schedule last month.
“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” announced DA Sim Gill’s office this afternoon.
ABC pulled the plug on The Bachelorette on March 19, just ahead of its planned premiere on March 22, after a new video emerged showing Paul throwing metal stools at ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen and apparently hitting one of her children. A 2023 incident, also caught on film, had already seen Paul enter a guilty plea in 2024 on one count of aggravated assault for the dust-up with Mortensen. More allegations against Paul emerged in late March after the unscripted romance series was shelved, to no small cost to ABC (AKA tens of millions).
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives lead remains under ongoing probation. Paul could have seen that privilege revoked and been hit with up to five-year prison sentence for a third-degree felony if DA Gill had decided to pursue further charges.
In letters sent Tuesday to the Draper and West Jordan cop shops, the Utah prosecutor stated: “The complainant in these cases reported several incidents – some of which occurred more than three years ago. Any incidents of misdemeanor offenses which are alleged to have occurred more than two years ago are barred by the statute of limitations. Incidents which are alleged to have occurred within the statute of limitations have also been reviewed.”
The DA added: “Several incidents that were submitted do not rise to the level of criminal offenses. The remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges where the State must be able to prove such allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Such incidents lack specificity as to when and what actually occurred or corroboration.”
“Based on the evidence submitted for screening by the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office declines to file any charges.”
ABC parent company Disney declined to comment on today’s lack of charges against Paul. Reps for the much accused Mormon Wives star did not respond to request for comment from Deadline.
The good news for Paul today comes a week after a Beehive State official ruled the mother of three cannot spend “unsupervised” time with her toddler son with Mortensen. A protective orders hearing for Paul and Mortensen before Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas has been set for April 30.