Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic dispute has reportedly caused The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to press pause on production — but will it affect The Bachelorette season 22 premiere?
Taylor, 31, was allegedly involved in a domestic violence dispute with on-again, off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen earlier this month. After a 2023 video of Taylor throwing a chair at Dakota was released by TMZ on Thursday, March 19, ABC decided to pull her season of the reality dating show — just days before it was set to premiere.
“In light of the newly released video just 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,” a Disney Entertainment spokesperson told Luxury Handbag Shopping on Thursday, March 19.
Taylor opened up to Us about the situation on Wednesday, March 18, saying there was “more context” to the alleged incident than was being reported.
“It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position,” she exclusively told Us. “And the mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well. So the headlines that are out right now are very hard to see, because that’s not the truth of it. I have always treated my children with respect and I’ve never touched them. So it’s been really hard.”
Taylor’s representative spoke out about the video, telling TMZ, “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child. Releasing an old and selectively edited video on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”
Prior to ABC pulling the plug, Variety reported on Monday, March 16, that the investigation “will not impact” The Bachelorette’s release schedule or press plan.
Taylor, who is the newest lead of the ABC dating franchise, is currently promoting the series in New York City. She is also set to attend a premiere event in Los Angeles this weekend ahead of the network premiere on Sunday, March 22.
News broke on Monday that producers halted filming Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives after an alleged domestic dispute took place between Taylor and Dakota, 33, shooting season 5.
A Draper City Police Department spokesperson in Utah later confirmed to Us that a “domestic assault investigation” involving the former couple is ongoing.
“Allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th,” the police told Us.
Taylor, who is an original member of the SLOMW cast, has since felt the repercussions of the scandal within the group.
“The Mormon Wives cast [is] honestly terrified to film with Taylor right now,” a source exclusively told Us one day after the news made headlines, noting that production is “shut down” at the moment and “the women have made it clear they don’t want to be around her because they see her as a major liability.”
Prior to the ordeal, Taylor’s SLOMW costar Mayci Neeley revealed that the mom of three appeared to be “in a better mindset” while away from Utah and filming season 22 of The Bachelorette.
“That was an opportunity for her to be forced to be away from the toxic cycle that she was in with Dakota, at least for a period of time, to hopefully figure out what she wants and what she needs,” Mikayla Matthews exclusively told Us on March 2 of Taylor’s change. “I’m excited to watch The Bachelorette back, because I don’t know [what happened].”
While Taylor was seemingly in a good place while shooting the ABC dating show — which was filmed prior to her return to SLOMW — now, her suitors are in a bind as her and Dakota’s drama unfolds publicly.
“The men on The Bachelorette have all been rallying around each other in solidarity and feel extremely upset and let down by Taylor and the situation,” a source told Us on Tuesday.
Prior to her reality TV debut, Taylor made headlines for being part of a Mormon swinging scandal while married to Tate Paul. The exes, who share daughter Indy May, 8, and son Ocean, 5, got divorced in 2022.
Taylor has since been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota, which has been tumultuous at times. The former couple share one son, Ever, 23 months.
The Bachelorette premieres on ABC Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET.
