Jessi Draper Defends Taylor Frankie Paul Over 2023 Assault Video: 'I Want This to Be a Wake-Up Call'

Tabitha Parent, Kirsty HatcherWed, March 25, 2026 at 1:38 PM UTC

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Jessi Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie PaulCredit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty -

Jessi Draper addressed her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costar Taylor Frankie Paul's domestic assault investigation on the Wednesday, March 25 episode of Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast

Draper's words come days after ABC canceled Paul's season of The Bachelorette and amid a production pause on Mormon Wives' fifth season

Paul's ex, Dakota Mortensen, was recently granted temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, after filing a temporary protective order against Paul

Jessi Draper is speaking out amid the ongoing open domestic assault investigation into her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives castmates, Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.Appearing on the Wednesday, March 25 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast in an interview that was recorded on March 20, Draper, 33, reacted to leaked video footage that captured an altercation between the exes in 2023.

Draper shared that she and cast were aware of the existence of the video but hadn't seen it for themselves prior to the leak, telling host Alex Cooper, "Back in 2023, we knew what had happened and we knew there was a video, but like, we never saw it. It was like the police had had it and they talked about it and we all just were like, okay."

Jessi Draper, Taylor Frankie PaulCredit: Natalie Cass/Disney

"I don't like to judge someone in their darkest moment," continued Draper. "I don't like to judge the person, I'll judge the mistake and Taylor really has made a lot of changes, and that's what so hard for me is like, this is my real friend and she does have a really good heart and I love her so much."

Breaking down in tears, Draper continued, "Seeing that video is like so hard because it's just, there's so much pain underneath the surface for Taylor. And I tell her this all the time that it's not who Taylor is. She got caught in a really bad cycle and just seeing that video and yes, the child being involved is awful and everyone involved like is really hard. But Taylor's such a good person and she's made some mistakes and so has Dakota."

"And I'm not saying any of it's right ... And I want this to be maybe a wake-up call for them and let's get them healthy and happy and move forward," Draper added of Paul and Mortensen.

Taylor Frankie Paul; Dakota MortensenCredit: Fred Hayes/Disney via Getty; Sara Jaye/Getty

"I believe people can come back from things like this. And I just want the kids to be safe and happy and healthy. That's all I really want for them right now," Draper added, referring to Paul's three children — son Ever, 2, whom she shares with Mortensen, and her two children with ex-husband Tate Paul, son Ocean, 5, and daughter Indy, 8.

The Draper City Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there is an open "domestic assault investigation" regarding Paul and Mortensen on Monday, March 16. The spokesperson confirmed "allegations have been made in both directions" and "contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24th." The spokesperson declined to share more amid the ongoing investigation.

On March 19, TMZ posted a 2023 video of Paul assaulting Mortensen in front of her daughter, Indy. At one point in the video, Mortensen can be heard saying, “Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair." The incident is also described in a 2023 indictment obtained by PEOPLE.

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Taylor Frankie Paul at the season 2 premiere of 'SLOMW' on May 9, 2025Credit: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

Paul was previously arrested for alleged domestic violence in 2023 following an argument with Mortensen. Paul pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, which means that if she complies with the conditions of the plea, that charge will be dismissed. Meanwhile, the other charges have already been dismissed.

After the release of the video, a spokesperson for Paul told PEOPLE, “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child. Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son's birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences."

In his own statement to PEOPLE, Mortensen said, "As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same."

Mormon Wives stars Layla Taylor and Miranda Hope were the first from MomTok to break their silence on the situation. Both took to their Instagram Stories to share messages condemning domestic violence on March 20."I am keeping her children in my thoughts, hoping for their safety above all else," Taylor wrote.Hope shared her post within a minute of Taylor's, similarly condemning domestic violence."As a human, and especially a mother, I cannot support that kind of behavior. My heart is with the children in this and I hope they're safe, supported, and surrounded by love."

The cast of the 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' season 4Credit: Disney

Following the leak of the video, ABC canceled Paul's season of The Bachelorette three days before it was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22.

The cancellation of The Bachelorette came just days after sources confirmed to PEOPLE that filming for Mormon Wives' fifth season had halted, and that cast members were distancing themselves from Paul.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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