If you just heard Taylor Frankie Paul is the new lead of “The Bachelorette” and immediately thought, “Wait… who?” you’re not alone. Unless you’ve been keeping up with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” you probably missed the whirlwind that is Taylor’s love life. From viral scandals to rocky relationships, she’s brought enough chaos to keep Bachelor Nation talking for months — and now she’s stepping into the spotlight with roses in hand.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Messy Dating Past
Taylor married Tate Paul in 2016, and they had two kids before things blew up in 2022 thanks to the now infamous #MomTok “soft swinging” scandal. Translation: a group of Mormon couples were “swapping light,”
Taylor allegedly went too far with someone else, and her marriage crumbled. She announced the divorce in May 2022, and Tate has since remarried and gone mostly private (though he keeps a public Instagram).
Then came Dakota Mortenson, the boyfriend who brought even more drama. Their relationship started soon after her split, and by February 2023, Taylor was arrested and charged with assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child. Which all played out on “Mormon Wives.”
Despite that, she and Dakota stayed together, welcomed a son in 2024, and broke up for good in early 2025 after months of on-and-off chaos.
Dakota shared a cryptic Instagram Story after the “Bachelorette” announcement, writing, “Had so many curve balls today… Life is too short.”
Taylor, meanwhile, told Us Weekly she hasn’t even bothered telling him directly. “It’s just not something that’s been on, like, my priority list,” she said.
Now, Taylor’s single — unless you count the rumors about her “soft-launching” a new guy — and about to date 25 men at once on ABC. If she thought TikTok and “Mormon Wives” were messy, just wait until Bachelor Nation gets hold of her.
Want even juicier tea? Sign up for Cocktail Party here!
