Production of Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has recommenced after a temporary halt due to a domestic violence investigation involving Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. It remains uncertain if either Paul or Mortensen will participate in the upcoming season.
The cast of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” features Whitney Leavitt, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Jessi Draper, Miranda McWhorter, and Jen Affleck, along with their spouses and former partners.
On March 16, it was reported that the production of “Mormon Wives” was paused while the Draper City, Utah police department investigated domestic violence claims made by Paul and Mortensen against each other, following an incident in late February. Although Season 5 was being filmed at the time, the incident was not captured on camera.
Following a review by several attorneys, the court announced earlier this month that Paul would not face charges.
The February incident was not the first of its kind between Paul and Mortensen. In 2023, Paul was arrested and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against Mortensen. This altercation, which was widely covered in Season 1 of “Mormon Wives,” resurfaced when TMZ released footage on March 19 that had previously only been shown in court. The video depicted Paul throwing metal barstools at Mortensen while one of her children was nearby. Although Paul and Mortensen share a son, he was not born at the time of the incident; the child in the video is from Paul’s previous marriage.
Shortly after the TMZ video leak, Disney decided to postpone the March 22 premiere of “The Bachelorette,” which had already been filmed with Paul as the lead. In a statement, the company said, “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 spokesperson for Paul issued a statement, saying, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. 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. 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. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Both Paul and Mortensen have filed restraining orders against each other.
