The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Is a Huge Reality Hit. But Its Star Is in Hot Water Once Again
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was a smash hit, but production for season 5 has halted due to the behavior of one of its stars.
Reality TV regular Taylor Frankie Paul recently made headlines after a video of a domestic violence incident came to light, one that led to her arrest for aggravated assault and child abuse in 2023 — though the charges were later dropped. The video was recorded by Paul’s ex Dakota Mortensen, and shows Paul throwing chairs at him while her 8-year-old daughter looked on. After the news broke, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was put on pause.
The video is shocking to watch. Posted by PopCrave on X, it shows Paul physically putting her hands on Mortenson, pulling his hair while shouting at him. While the fate of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fifth season is still unclear, the video had an immediate effect on another reality TV series slated to star Paul. After the news broke, ABC announced that its upcoming season of The Bachelorette was officially canceled.
Reality Stars Respond to the News
Big Brother alum Ashley Hollis responded to the news on X, lamenting what it meant for the other contestants set to appear on The Bachelorette. “Imagine leaving your job as one of these men on the bachelorette and your season doesn’t even get aired,” she wrote. “You don’t get any followers, can’t launch a career or nothing.” Other users agreed, with one writing, “dude I want them to just drop all the episodes on streaming just for the contestants.” Other users took a more cynical approach. “Bro literally quit his life for 0 likes and 0 clout,” wrote one. “Went from ‘Bachelorette star’ to ‘forgotten contestant’ faster than the rose ceremony could say goodbye.”
Many of The Bachelorette contestants were shocked by the news, TMZ reports that many of Paul’s suitors found her to be ” kind, genuine, and well-intentioned” and saw a “softer, more authentic side of her during filming that doesn’t match the accusations.”
“I fear MomTok won’t survive this one,” wrote one X user in response to the video. Paul was the founder of MomTok, a viral TikTok community of Utah-based Mormon mothers that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives now chronicles. The prediction appears to be right. According to a People magazine source, other MomTok members are now distancing themselves from Paul — evidently hoping to escape the fallout.
Paul herself isn’t taking the video leak well, telling People magazine, “my heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time.” Those close to her are reportedly concerned for her well-being, with one source telling People magazine, “we want Taylor to get the help she needs.” The police investigation of the dispute is ongoing, and allegations of domestic violence have arisen from both sides. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, a representative for Mortenson told the outlet that his “number one priority” is protecting his son, Ever, with whom Paul shares custody.
(featured image: Hulu)
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