Taylor Frankie Paul is about to make reality TV history as the lead of season 22 of “The Bachelorette.” But just days before the premiere, the internet is buzzing about the ongoing drama between Taylor and her ex, Dakota Mortensen.
Cocktailers have been tracking the situation closely, and the headlines surrounding the pair have only intensified as the premiere approaches.
From a production pause on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” to an active police investigation, there’s a lot unfolding at once.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s actually happening — and what it could mean for Taylor’s big ABC debut.
‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Production Pause Explained
Taylor first rose to fame in 2022 as part of #MomTok, a group of Mormon moms whose TikTok videos went viral. Her fame skyrocketed after the now-infamous “soft swinging” scandal rocked the friend group and dominated social media conversations.
The drama eventually became the foundation for Hulu’s hit series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which turned the MomTok crew into reality stars.
But filming for season 5 of the show is currently on hold.
Production paused on March 16 as an investigation involving Taylor and Dakota continues.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed there is an active “domestic assault investigation” involving the former couple.
“Allegations have been made in both directions,” the spokesperson told People, adding that “contact was made with involved parties on Feb. 24th and 25th.”
The spokesperson declined to share additional details because the investigation remains ongoing.
Multiple sources confirmed filming for season 5 of “Mormon Wives“ had stopped due to the situation between Paul and Mortensen.
“They are not filming,” one insider claimed in March 2026. “Taylor has some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens. Until that resolves, they are off.”
A source also told Entertainment Weekly that cameras were not rolling during the alleged incident and that Taylor’s children were not present.
Taylor Frankie Paul Addresses the Situation
Taylor addressed the situation during an interview with EW and admitted the moment has been difficult.
“I’ve had better days,” Taylor said.
The reality star explained that the controversy has overshadowed what should be an exciting moment for her career.
“I’m super excited about the Bachelorette premiere,” Taylor said, before adding that “everything that’s been heavy right now is kind of taking away from that, I’m not going to lie.”
Taylor also explained that she has chosen to limit contact with Dakota.
“I took action about a few weeks ago,” she said.
“I’m just doing third-party everything — pick-up, drop-offs, communication — so no contact right now for me.”
Taylor added that she believes the arrangement is best for everyone involved.
“I think that’s the best case, honestly, because clearly it’s just not to a point of us getting along,” she said.
Dakota Mortensen Responds Through Representative
Dakota’s representative also spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the situation.
According to the statement, Dakota’s main focus remains on their son.
“His top priority is protecting their 2-year-old son, Ever,” the representative said.
The rep also denied claims that Dakota intentionally brought the situation into the public spotlight.
“He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor,” the statement said.
The representative added that Dakota has largely stayed quiet about the situation publicly.
“He’s never done any kind of sit-down interview about his side,” the rep said.
The statement continued, explaining that Dakota initially hoped the situation would fade without public attention.
“He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away.”
Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Season Still Set to Air
Despite the controversy, “The Bachelorette” season 22 is still scheduled to premiere on March 22.
According to Variety, the investigation “will not impact the release schedule or press plans” for the ABC series.
However, the drama has already had ripple effects.
TMZ reported that ABC hired a public relations crisis manager after the situation surfaced.
Meanwhile, Cinnabon announced it was ending its partnerships with both “The Bachelorette” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
In a public statement, the company said the decision followed recent developments.
“Recent developments and allegations surrounding the lead cast member led us to reassess this collaboration as it no longer aligns with our brand values,” the company said.
The brand had planned several promotional tie-ins connected to the show, including limited-edition packaging and a drink inspired by a viral beverage trend from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
For now, ABC appears to be moving forward with Taylor’s season.
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