Taylor Frankie Paul Makes First Outing Since Bachelorette Was Canceled

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Taylor Frankie Paul is staying busy.

Just a day after her season of The Bachelorette was pulled from the air due to accusations of domestic violence, the reality star was seen out with friends in her hometown of Utah, keeping a low profile.

TMZ recently published photos of Paul running errands in a casual outfit: a t-shirt with a tuxedo design, loose pants, dark Crocs, and sunglasses. He also carried a beige purse and had a canned drink with him.

Following confirmation that Utah police began investigating a domestic assault involving her and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, last month, the star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shared that she was having a difficult time.

It’s really painful to watch and experience everything that’s happening,” Paul shared with People magazine on March 17. “It’s a difficult and sad time.

The 31-year-old added, “I’m struggling for sure.”

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Mortensen filed for a restraining order on March 19th, claiming that in February, a woman choked him and pushed him into a window. He also stated that the following day, she physically attacked him, damaged his car, and squeezed his face.

Paul admitted that Mortensen attempted to inform her about the little girl being there, but she was too distracted to notice. She said she was completely checked out and didn’t even care, so she threw another chair.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the recent news, and it’s been a whirlwind! Following the release of that video, ABC made the difficult decision to cancel season 22 of The Bachelorette before it even aired on March 22nd. Paul’s representative has since released a statement to TopMob News addressing everything that’s been happening.

After enduring years of severe mental and physical abuse and fearing for her safety, Taylor is now finding the courage to confront her abuser and is taking action to protect herself and her children from future harm.

The spokesperson explained that many women are quietly enduring hardship because their former partners are controlling, possessive, and won’t allow them to rebuild their lives.

Mortensen has been given temporary custody of their 2-year-old son until a court hearing on April 7, after dismissing allegations made by Paul as untrue.

Paul admitted that Mortensen attempted to inform her about the young girl being there, but Paul was too distracted to be concerned. She said she was completely checked out and reacted by throwing another chair.

After the video came out, ABC decided to cancel the upcoming season 22 of The Bachelorette before it even started on March 22nd. Paul’s representative has since released a statement to TopMob News about the situation.

After enduring years of severe mental and physical abuse, and fearing further threats, Taylor is now finding the courage to confront her abuser and is taking action to safeguard herself and her children from future harm.

The spokesperson explained that many women are quietly enduring hardship because their former partners are controlling, possessive, and won’t allow them to rebuild their lives.

Mortensen has been given temporary custody of their 2-year-old son until a court hearing on April 7th, after dismissing allegations made by Paul as unfounded.

For a complete timeline on the allegations involving Taylor Frankie Paul, read on.

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 former 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 these documents to TopMob News.

According to court documents, the police officer who arrived at the scene reported that Dakota said he’d been arguing with his girlfriend. The officer stated that Dakota told him his girlfriend, Taylor, started hitting him when he tried to leave.

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 cannot be filed again.

For three years, the charge against her was put on hold. If Taylor followed the conditions of her agreement, it would then be filed as a Class A misdemeanor, according to court documents.

As part of her agreement, Taylor was required to undergo assessments for both substance abuse and domestic violence, and to complete any treatment recommended as a result, 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, 2023, Taylor shared a photo from the hospital on Instagram, writing about how much they all love him and expressing gratitude for how he’s brought their 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 that were kept private. She described it as a terrible night, one she deeply regretted. Because Dakota had faced similar struggles, he truly understood what she was going through and offered to help her get through it.

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

Let me tell you, navigating fertility can be a really challenging journey. A few months ago, I experienced an ectopic pregnancy, and then shortly after, a chemical pregnancy. It’s tough not to wonder about the role hormones play in all of this, and honestly, I feel like mine are a little all over the place right now. It’s just been a lot to process, and I’m being honest about how I’m feeling.

Taylor explained that she felt confused and upset after what happened, leading her to drink. Dakota then arrived and expressed his disappointment that she had been drinking.

I recall throwing objects, and I didn’t recognize my daughters who were on the couch. We had babysitters, so I believe they were upstairs asleep. She claimed Dakota attempted to tell her that her five-year-old daughter was there, but I was so out of it that I didn’t care and threw another chair.

The Hulu show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered 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 news came after the premiere of season two of SLOMW 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 so happy 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 call with Taylor, Dakota admitted, “It was a bad decision, and I could have chosen someone else. The person I chose was the problem – I knew it would cause drama, and that was wrong of me.”

Taylor will be the next Bachelorette for season 22, as she announced on the podcast Call Her Daddy in September 2025. This is a bit of a change for the show, which usually chooses its Bachelorettes from past contestants on 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 shared that she’s faced criticism, judgment, and rejection, but believes those who truly get to know her will see she’s a sincere person with good intentions who 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 a hurtful thing to do.

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

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 heal and break their negative pattern.

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 keep him in mind, saying, “Just save a rose for me, okay?”

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

On March 16th, a representative from the Draper City Police Department told People magazine 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 is ongoing.

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 coverage about his father. She wants Ever to have a positive view 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 a fight 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 things escalated, he told her their daughter was watching while Taylor began throwing metal barstools at him. Taylor claimed Dakota pushed her to the floor before he started filming, and he responded by blaming her and asking for help with their 5-year-old child. Taylor was later heard shouting for him to stay away from her 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 divert attention from Dakota’s behavior. Dakota, however, dismissed Taylor’s accusations as untrue.

Following the release of video showing a dispute between Taylor and Dakota in 2023, ABC announced it was cancelling season 22 of The Bachelorette. A Disney Entertainment representative told TopMob News, “We’ve decided not to proceed with the new season at this time, and our priority is supporting 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. After enduring years of hidden mental and physical abuse and facing threats, she is now finding the courage to confront the person responsible and is taking action to protect herself and her children from future harm.

The statement also highlighted that many women are quietly enduring hardship because of controlling, possessive former partners who 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 situation, as seen in a video, is “deeply upsetting.”

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

Dakota explained they’re prioritizing their two-year-old son’s well-being and expressed a wish that Taylor would do the same.

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2026-03-21 04:22