ABC cancels Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ season
Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” was canceled after a “domestic assault investigation” was revealed by Utah police.
A new allegation of domestic violence has reportedly surfaced against “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul.
Paul, 31, has been thrust further into the spotlight this month, after a video was released showing a violent altercation between her and ex-partner Dakota Mortensen. The footage, connected to an assault charge to which she pleaded guilty, snowballed into the cancellation of an upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” set to star Paul.
Now, NBC is reporting that the Mormon mom-fluencer is being investigated for another alleged domestic violence incident. The outlet reported Wednesday, March 25, that Utah police were investigating an allegation of domestic violence brought against Paul by Mortensen in February, stemming from a 2024 encounter.
The claim brings the accusations against Paul to three, including the 2023 altercation and another, allegedly in February, which became public a week before her season of the ABC reality dating show was set to air.
Taylor Frankie Paul reportedly accused of another domestic violence incident in 2024
A spokesperson for Utah’s West Jordan police department confirmed the report to NBC but declined to provide any further details, citing an open investigation.
The authorities said they were reviewing videos submitted by Mortensen, and that he had been referred to their department by the Draper police, who are investigating a separate incident involving the two. While they had not yet spoken to Paul, police told NBC they were in contact with her lawyer and wanted her to submit a written statement or come in for questioning.
USA TODAY has reached out to Mortensen, Paul and West Jordan police for comment. Paul and Mortensen, whose on-and-off-again relationship forms a major plot line on “Secret Lives,” share one son, Ever, 2. Paul has two children from a previous marriage.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic violence allegations, explained
In 2023, Paul entered a plea of abeyance – a legal term for when a defendant pleads guilty, but the court delays conviction – to a felony aggravated assault charge following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen. Video of the incident, released March 19 by TMZ, has since set off a fiery debate on social media and led both the “Bachelorette” and “Secret Lives” to pause filming and promotion.
The aggravated assault charge was reportedly set to remain for three years, until Paul meets the conditions of her plea agreement, which are up for review in August. If she follows the terms of the agreement, which include supervised probation and avoiding violating the law for 36 months, the felony charge will be reduced to a class A misdemeanor. The latest accusations could put that in jeopardy.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a March 25 statement that he is “aware of the West Jordan allegations.”
“Since Ms. Paul is on plea in abeyance status, we would always be interested in any subsequent allegations of criminal conduct during her probationary period,” he added. “If there is conduct out of West Jordan that rises to the level of a violation that would fall within our domain to file charges, then we would screen it when and if it is presented to us.”
In a separate instance, the Draper City Police Department in Northern Utah confirmed to People on March 16 that there is an ongoing “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen, who have both reportedly leveled allegations against each other. Law enforcement made contact with them on Feb. 24 and 25, a spokesperson told the outlet.
Mortensen has since reportedly filed for a protective order against Paul.
Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen tell different stories
Since news of the investigation by Draper police broke, both Paul and Mortensen have issued statements casting blame on the other party.
A representative for Paul told People magazine and Variety that the reality star is the victim of abuse.
“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 statement read. “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,” the statement continued. “She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
In his own statement to Entertainment Weekly on March 18, Mortensen’s rep said his priority is protecting their child and that while he knew news of the police investigation might surface ahead of Paul’s “Bachelorette” run, his focus was on co-parenting.
“He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor,” his rep told the outlet. “He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can’t do that.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY