Taylor Frankie Paul Seeks Restraining Order Against Dakota Mortensen

by

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen‘s legal battle continues.

Just two weeks after gaining temporary custody of their 2-year-old son and filing for protection against the star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Dakota filed her own temporary restraining order against her ex on April 7th, as reported by People and TMZ.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Taylor is having such a hard time with her ex. Apparently, the legal documents show he was seriously controlling and abusive towards her – a pattern of it, they said! And get this – he actually tried to get a protective order against her first, just a few weeks ago! Everyone’s saying it was a total attempt to mess with her career and distract her, like he was trying to ruin everything for her. It’s just awful, and she deserves so much better. I’m so worried about her!

According to documents obtained by People magazine, the reality star is requesting the court extend the protective order to include their young child.

Taylor asked the court for a protective order before a hearing scheduled for April 7th. This hearing was set after Dakota was temporarily granted custody of their young child on March 20th.

Taylor, who also shares two children with her former husband, Tate Paul, claimed in court documents that Dakota had been physically abusive towards her during their turbulent relationship from 2022 to 2025.

She also described a fight that happened in February, which Utah officials have already confirmed they are looking into. According to documents obtained by People magazine, she claims that in February 2026, Dakota drove her away from her home against her wishes and then slammed her head against the dashboard of his truck, also hitting her knee and elbow.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for Taylor and Dakota for comment and has not yet heard back.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Dakota filed for a protective order on March 19th detailing an incident that occurred during a visit with Taylor and their child. He claimed they had an argument the previous night, and that Taylor physically assaulted him. Dakota stated he initially called 911, but Taylor convinced him to hang up.

Okay, so, according to the documents, the night after everything, I mean, at Taylor’s place, Dakota claims she totally lost it. He says she chucked his phone at the wall – can you believe it?! – and then actually blocked him from leaving! Like, physically wouldn’t let him out the door. And it didn’t stop there! He says she chased him outside and, get this, physically attacked him. It’s just… a lot. He’s saying she completely lost control.

Okay, so reading the court documents, he basically said he felt trapped – he couldn’t leave while everything was going down. And get this, he claims he pushed her away from him to protect himself, and that’s how she ended up hitting the car seat! I’ve read it like, five times, and that’s what he’s saying. It’s just…wow. He’s really trying to paint himself as the victim here, honestly.

The lawsuit was filed soon after a video from 2023 appeared online, showing a fight between the former couple. In the video, Taylor threw a metal stool at her boyfriend, and it unintentionally hit their daughter.

Paul was arrested following the incident and, in August 2023, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. Four other charges against him were dropped and cannot be refiled.

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.

After the video became public, production on Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette was temporarily paused. Her representative then spoke about the difficulties in her relationship with Dakota.

Taylor is now finding the courage to confront the person who abused her both mentally and physically, and is taking action to keep herself and her children safe after years of enduring threats and harm, according to her representative. Her rep also highlighted that many women experience similar struggles, silently dealing with controlling and jealous ex-partners who make it difficult to rebuild their lives.

After the dating show was cancelled, Dakota responded to claims made by Taylor, stating they were untrue.

Honestly, seeing that video was really disturbing. And, sadly, I’m getting used to seeing false accusations about us – I want to be clear, they are completely untrue. I’m just frustrated that this keeps happening, but I want everyone to know I stand by my partner and we’re doing okay.

For a closer look at Taylor and Dakota’s legal battle, 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 these 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 property damage, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office and reports from TopMob News.

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

In August 2023, Taylor admitted guilt to a serious assault charge, a third-degree felony, as shown in court records obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. Four other charges against Taylor were dropped and cannot 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.

I’ve been following Taylor’s case closely, and as part of her agreement, she’s committed to getting help. She’s agreed to complete assessments for both substance abuse and domestic violence, and then follow through with any treatment they recommend over the next three years. Crucially, she also needs to stay out of trouble – no major law violations allowed. It’s a big step, and I’m hoping she can get the support she needs to move forward.

Taylor and Dakota welcomed their son a week ahead of schedule. On April 4, 2024, Taylor shared a photo from the hospital on Instagram, expressing their joy and writing, “These past two weeks with him have been wonderful. We all love him so much, and we’re grateful he’s brought our families together.”

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, even the things kept private. “It was a terrible night, and I really regret it,” she said. Dakota, having gone through difficult times himself, completely understood what she was going through. He told her, ‘I want to help you get 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 that her hormones might be playing a role in how she’s feeling.

Taylor explained that she felt confused and upset after what happened, and turned to alcohol to cope. She recalled that Dakota was upset when he found out she had been drinking.

Oh my god, it’s all coming back to me… I remember just losing it, completely losing it. I was throwing things, anything I could get my hands on! It was so bad, I honestly didn’t even see my daughters, they were just… somewhere. Apparently, they were on the couch, and we had a babysitter, so they were probably upstairs asleep. And Dakota – can you believe it? – she tried to tell me my five-year-old was there, but I was so far gone, so completely out of it, I didn’t even care. I just grabbed another chair and threw it. It’s awful to admit, but that’s exactly what happened.

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. The split came to light on the premiere of season two of SLOMW, where it was revealed Dakota had been unfaithful shortly after their son was born. Taylor shared the news on TikTok, stating, “Dakota isn’t mine anymore, wish him the best.”

We were living together and things were wonderful with our new baby, and I was starting to think about getting engaged,” she shared on the show’s first episode. “Then I found out he’d been lying to me the whole time.

In a fourth-season episode of SLOMW, Dakota confessed to having an affair with a friend, Shinia Powell. During a FaceTime conversation with Taylor, Dakota admitted, “It was a mistake, and I should have chosen someone else. The fact that it was Shinia was the real problem—I knew it would cause drama, and I shouldn’t have done it.”

Taylor will be the next Bachelorette! She announced she’d be leading season 22 of the show during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast in September 2025. This is a bit of a change for the show, which usually chooses leads from past seasons of The Bachelor.

Taylor saw it as a positive development, explaining in a preview for the upcoming season, “I think this happened to help me move forward.”

Taylor explained that she’s faced criticism, judgment, and rejection, but believes people who truly get to know her will see she’s sincere, has good intentions, 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 saying he felt bad about it.

Okay, so he basically admitted they’ve both messed up, really hurt each other, but honestly? He thinks deep down they still love each other. I knew it! I just knew there was something there, even with everything that’s happened. It’s like, all the drama, all the fighting… it doesn’t change the fact that they’re meant to be. I’m telling you, they’re endgame!

Honestly, it was such a relief when Taylor and I finally admitted our relationship was really unhealthy. Taylor actually said being on The Bachelorette would be a good thing for us, even if we didn’t end up together! It felt like it could give us the space we needed to finally deal with our issues and break the pattern we were stuck in – a chance to really 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 he hoped she hadn’t completely ruled out a future with him.

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 that they were investigating reports 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 not releasing further details while the investigation continues.

Okay, so I heard from someone who knows things, and honestly, it just makes me love Taylor even MORE. Apparently, she really takes responsibility for her actions, but her biggest priority is protecting her little boy, Ever. She doesn’t want him reading awful things about his dad or growing up with a bad impression. It’s just…she wants him to adore his father, and that’s so beautiful! I totally get it.

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.”

Witnesses reported hearing him tell her that their daughter was nearby just as Taylor started throwing metal barstools at him. During the fight, Taylor claimed Dakota pushed her to the ground before he started filming, while he insisted she was responsible and asked her to consider their 5-year-old daughter. Taylor was later heard shouting at him to stay away from her child.

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 left out important 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 involved.”

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 also 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 help, 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 of the incident is “deeply upsetting,” as anyone who has seen it would likely agree.

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

Dakota said her priority is her son, Ever, and his well-being, and she hopes Taylor will make his safety a priority too.

According to documents obtained by People magazine on March 20th, Dakota was granted temporary custody of Ever after filing a protective order against Taylor. A hearing is scheduled for April 7th where Taylor will have the opportunity to present her perspective. However, until that hearing, neither parent is allowed to spend time with Ever, according to the order.

As a longtime supporter of Dakota, I was really disturbed to learn about another alleged incident of domestic violence from 2024 that they brought to the police in February. According to a West Jordan Police Department spokesperson who spoke with NBC News on March 24th, investigators are still trying to get Taylor’s side of the story. They’ve spoken with her lawyer, but haven’t been able to speak to Taylor directly yet, and are hoping she’ll provide a statement or agree to an interview to help confirm what Dakota reported.

Read More

2026-04-07 23:19