Taylor Frankie Paul Details “Hell on Earth” After Assault Incident

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Taylor Frankie Paul is sharing a look into her mindset.

Dealing with a continuing legal issue involving her ex, Dakota Mortensen, and the recent cancellation of season 22 of The Bachelorette, the star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been sharing how she’s managing everything.

The past 40 days have been incredibly tough, honestly. I saw Taylor’s post from April 12th, and it really resonated. She described it as feeling like ‘hell on earth,’ and I get it. She shared that with every panic attack, she just prayed for strength, feeling her body completely overwhelmed. It’s so raw and real, and it breaks my heart to see her going through that, but I admire her strength in sharing it.

Despite the difficulties she’s facing, she believes God has shown her clear signs of encouragement. While she admits she only used to pray when things were really tough growing up, she now makes a point of being thankful each day, even when she’s feeling down.

Taylor, who has a 2-year-old son with Dakota and two other children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, posted a video alongside her message. The video included pictures of a Bible, supportive text messages, and footage of her crying.

She’s speaking out following the end of her almost three-year on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota, which led to a temporary halt in production for the fifth season of SLOMW.

In March, TMZ released a video from 2023 showing a fight between Taylor and Dakota. The video showed Taylor hitting her boyfriend with a metal stool, and unintentionally hitting her daughter in the process.

The upcoming season of The Bachelorette was unexpectedly canceled only three days before it was scheduled to air on March 22nd. Following the announcement, Taylor’s representative told TopMob News that she was thankful for ABC’s understanding as she focuses on keeping her family safe and secure.

Dakota’s scenes were also removed from the show. This included a planned appearance in a crossover episode between Vanderpump Villa and SLOMW, as previously reported by TopMob News.

Lisa Vanderpump, who is an executive producer on Vanderpump Villa, explained to People magazine that Dakota didn’t have a major role in the show’s plot, so removing him hasn’t changed the overall story.

She explained they didn’t want to draw attention to a divisive issue when they had so much positive content to share. The show is finished and prepared for release, and they’re not planning any major promotional efforts right now.

For a closer look at all the allegations surrounding Dakota and Taylor, keep reading.

Taylor Frankie Paul, who gained popularity on TikTok as #MomTok, was arrested in Utah on February 17, 2023, following an altercation with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. According to court documents obtained by ABC 4 Utah, she allegedly threw metal chairs and a wooden playset at him while one of her children was present. She shares those children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.

Court records show Taylor faces several charges, including aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence that injured a child, simple child abuse, and criminal mischief. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office released the documents, which were reviewed by TopMob News.

According to court documents, the responding Herriman police officer stated that Dakota told him he had been arguing with his girlfriend. Dakota reported that during the argument, he tried to leave, but his girlfriend, Taylor, began hitting him.

In August 2023, Taylor admitted guilt to a serious assault charge, as shown in court records obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. Four other charges against them were dropped and won’t be filed again.

For three years, the charges against her were put on hold. If Taylor followed the conditions of her agreement, the case would then be filed as a minor offense, according to court records.

As part of her agreement, Taylor was required to undergo assessments for both substance abuse and domestic violence, and complete any treatment programs recommended for her, all within a three-year timeframe. She also had to avoid breaking any major laws.

Taylor and Dakota welcomed their son a week ahead of schedule. On April 4, 2024, Taylor shared a photo from the hospital on Instagram, writing about how much they all love him and expressing gratitude that he’s brought their families together. They’ve been enjoying the first two weeks with him.

Taylor told TopMob News that the fight with Dakota was definitely their lowest point.

She explained that he supported her because he understood what was really happening privately. “It was a terrible night, and I really regret it,” she said. Dakota had gone through a difficult time himself, so he truly understood what she was feeling. He told her, ‘I want to help you through this.’

As for the confrontation itself, she later said the incident had been building up. 

She revealed on the Viall Files podcast in September 2024 that she’d experienced an ectopic pregnancy a few months earlier, followed by a chemical pregnancy. While hesitant to attribute it solely to hormonal imbalances, she acknowledged they likely played a role, saying she felt ‘pretty off.’

Taylor explained that she felt confused and upset after the events, leading her to drink alcohol that night. Dakota picked her up and expressed his disappointment that she had been drinking.

I recall throwing objects and not recognizing my daughters, who were on the couch. We had babysitters, and I believe the girls were upstairs asleep. Apparently, Dakota tried to point out that my five-year-old was there too, but I was so out of it that I didn’t even care, and I threw another chair.

The reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on Hulu in September 2024, and the first episode of its first season showed footage of Taylor’s arrest in 2023.

Taylor publicly announced her breakup with Dakota in May 2025, following a revelation on the second season premiere of SLOMW. The show revealed Dakota had been unfaithful shortly after their son was born. Taylor shared the news on TikTok, stating, “Dakota and I are no longer together, and I wish him well.”

“Dakota and I were living together and in bliss with our new baby, and I was even considering engagement,” she said on the premiere episode. “And then I learned that he was lying this entire time.”

In a fourth-season episode of SLOMW, Dakota confessed to having an affair with a friend, Shinia Powell. During a FaceTime call with Taylor, Dakota admitted, “It was a mistake, and I should have chosen someone else. My biggest error was getting involved with someone who would inevitably cause drama – I really messed up.”

Oh my gosh, you guys, I nearly DIED when Taylor was announced as the next Bachelorette! It happened on Call Her Daddy in September 2025, and I just screamed! It’s SO different because usually, they pick someone who was already trying to find love on The Bachelor, but Taylor… she’s completely new to all of this! I’m already counting down the days until season 22!

Taylor saw it as a positive development, explaining in a preview for the upcoming season, “I think this was meant to be part of my next journey.”

Taylor shared that she’s faced criticism, judgment, and rejection, but believes those who truly get to know her will see she’s sincere, kind-hearted, and deserves another opportunity at love.

Just before Taylor started filming season 22 of The Bachelorette, a conversation she had with Dakota aired on season four of SLOMW. During that conversation, Dakota apologized for his relationship with Shinia, admitting it was a mistake and that he’d acted poorly.

He explained that both he and Taylor had caused each other pain, but he still thought they loved each other deeply.

The couple acknowledged their relationship was unhealthy, and Taylor believed appearing on The Bachelorette could actually be beneficial, even if they didn’t end up together. She felt it would provide a much-needed opportunity for both of them to grow and heal.

Dakota let Taylor know he still had feelings for her, saying he was glad she was happy and wished her well if she found someone else. He playfully asked her to ‘save a rose for him,’ hinting that he wasn’t quite over her.

Production on season five of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives temporarily stopped in February 2026 following a reported disagreement between Taylor and Dakota.

On March 16, a representative from the Draper City Police Department told People magazine they were investigating claims of domestic assault involving Taylor and Dakota. The representative stated that both individuals had made accusations against each other. Police made contact with those involved on February 24th and 25th, but are limited in what they can share because the investigation is still active.

According to a source at TopMob News, Taylor is taking responsibility for her actions and is primarily focused on shielding her son, Ever, from negative press or anything that could affect his view of his father. She wants Ever to have a positive image of his father.

After Taylor and Dakota had a disagreement in 2026, TMZ released video of a physical fight between them that originally happened in 2023.

The video shows Dakota filming an altercation while Taylor shouts at him and tries to hit him, even briefly putting him in a headlock.

“Look,” Dakota can be heard saying, “this is called physical abuse.”

As Taylor began throwing metal barstools at him, he said she mentioned their daughter was there. During the fight, Taylor claimed Dakota pushed her to the floor before he started filming, while Dakota insisted she was the one who initiated the conflict and asked her to think about their 5-year-old child. Taylor was later heard shouting, “Stay away from my daughter.”

According to a police report obtained by TopMob News in 2023, the child was struck by a stool.

Following the video’s release, a representative for Taylor stated to TopMob News that it was part of an effort to damage her reputation. They said the video selectively presented information and was intended to shift attention away from Dakota’s behavior. Dakota, however, dismissed Taylor’s accusations as untrue.

Following the release of video showing a disagreement between Taylor and Dakota in 2023, ABC announced it was cancelling season 22 of The Bachelorette. A Disney Entertainment spokesperson told TopMob News, “We’ve decided not to proceed with the new season right now, and we’re prioritizing support for the family.”

Following ABC’s decision, Taylor broke her silence about the situation. 

Taylor is thankful for the support she’s receiving from ABC as she focuses on keeping her family safe. According to her representative, she has endured years of severe mental and physical abuse and threats, but is now finding the courage to confront her abuser and protect herself and her children from future harm.

The statement highlighted that many women are quietly enduring hardship caused by former partners who are controlling, possessive, and won’t allow them to rebuild their lives.

Taylor’s team said she is considering her next steps, getting support, and will eventually talk publicly about what happened.

Dakota addressed claims of domestic violence involving him and Taylor, stating in a March 19th interview with TopMob News that the video footage of the incident is “deeply upsetting,” as anyone who has seen it would realize.

He stated he was sadly accustomed to false accusations regarding him and their relationship, and firmly denied them all.

Dakota said her priority is her son, Ever, and ensuring his well-being, and she hopes Taylor will prioritize Ever’s safety as well.

According to documents obtained by People magazine on March 20th, Dakota was granted temporary custody of Ever after filing a protective order against Taylor. While a hearing is scheduled for April 7th to allow Taylor to present her side of the story, the order currently prohibits either parent from spending time with Ever.

Utah authorities are investigating a new claim of domestic violence from 2024 that Dakota reported to police in February, according to a West Jordan Police Department spokesperson who spoke with NBC News on March 24. Investigators have contacted Taylor’s lawyer but haven’t yet spoken with Taylor directly. They are hoping she will provide a written statement or agree to an interview to help confirm the details of Dakota’s report.

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2026-04-06 16:51