Taylor Frankie Paul Being Investigated Following Allegations of a Third Domestic Violence Incident: Report
Taylor Frankie Paul Being Investigated Following Allegations of a Third Domestic Violence Incident: Report
Becca Longmire, Liza EsquibiasWed, March 25, 2026 at 1:41 PM UTC
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Taylor Frankie PaulCredit: Fred Hayes/Disney via Getty -
Taylor Frankie Paul is reportedly being investigated amid allegations of a third domestic violence incident, according to NBC News
The alleged event, involving her and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, is believed to have occurred in 2024, per the outlet
The news comes after Paul was seen throwing a chair at her ex, Mortensen, in a leaked video shared this month, following a 2023 domestic incident
Taylor Frankie Paul is reportedly under investigation following allegations of a third domestic violence incident involving her and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
On Tuesday, March 24, a police spokesperson in Utah confirmed to NBC News that officials were investigating another incident connected to Paul, 31, and her ex, which reportedly occurred in 2024.
The outlet noted that Mortensen, 33, had contacted the state’s West Jordan Police Department last month. However, the spokesman declined to provide further details due to the case being an open investigation.
The spokesperson told NBC News that they couldn’t share exact dates regarding the alleged incident, but said that authorities had been reviewing multiple videos.
Taylor Frankie PaulCredit: Bachelor Nation on ABC/YouTube
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After rising to fame through MomTok and her hit Hulu reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Utah mom of three Paul, has faced ongoing legal issues stemming from her volatile relationship with her ex, Mortensen.
A heated argument between the two in 2023 landed the TikTok influencer in court on multiple charges, including aggravated assault. Though Paul pleaded guilty to a felony count, she did so under a plea deal that would reduce the charge to a misdemeanor in three years if she abided by the agreement.
Weeks before her season of The Bachelorette was set to air this month, the former couple became involved in another domestic violence investigation that halted production on season 5 of Mormon Wives.
Taylor Frankie Paul; Dakota MortensenCredit: Hulu; Sara Jaye/Getty
The police department is yet to speak to Paul regarding the alleged third domestic violence incident reported by NBC News on Tuesday, and officials only have the details that Mortensen has provided.
The spokesperson noted that investigators had spoken to Paul’s attorney regarding the matter, the outlet reported. Authorities now want Paul to come in for an interview or submit a written statement, the publication stated, citing the spokesman.
Mortensen told police that he’d been advised to contact the West Jordan department after initially contacting the Draper Police Department due to the jurisdiction in which the alleged 2024 incident occurred, per NBC News.
PEOPLE has contacted the West Jordan and Draper police departments for additional information, but didn't immediately hear back.
The news comes after ABC announced on Monday, March 19, that Paul’s season of The Bachelorette, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, had been canceled. This came hours after TMZ published a video from 2023 showing Paul throwing chairs at her ex-boyfriend, Mortensen, while a child was present.
“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 Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Paul addressed the news: “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,” the statement continued. “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."
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Taylor Frankie PaulCredit: Fred Hayes/Disney
Paul faced charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child following her 2023 arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. She and Mortensen share 2-year-old son Ever, together.
The newly released video was captured during that incident, in which Paul could be seen physically attacking Mortensen while her daughter from her previous relationship, Indy, now 8, was heard crying in the same room. The 2023 indictment, obtained by PEOPLE, also alleged that Paul threw “heavy, metal chairs” at Mortensen, which struck her daughter, matching what occurred in the clip.
"As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation," Mortensen said in a statement to PEOPLE. "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."
The same day the video came out, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul, per court docs obtained by PEOPLE. A hearing has been set for April 7.
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."
During a September 2025 interview on Call Her Daddy, Taylor said that the charges “were all dropped" and called the incident the “hardest time” in her life. “I never had hurt my daughter. I never intentionally did anything with my children,” she added.
In addition to The Bachelorette being pulled from screens, a source confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday, March 16, that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives halted its season 5 production due to "some pretty serious stuff happening regarding [Paul's] past."
Also on March 16, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there was an ongoing "domestic assault investigation" regarding Paul and Mortensen. The spokesperson said "allegations have been made in both directions,” referring to Paul and Mortensen, confirming that "contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24 and 25."
Shortly after, Cinnabon, which recently announced "limited-time Bachelorette-themed packaging" and a menu item inspired by The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, said in a statement it "made the decision to terminate its collaboration" with the shows.
On Wednesday, March 18, Paul appeared on Good Morning America, calling the circumstances "so heavy."
"When your life is broadcast out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world, that’s what it feels like — I’m not going to lie," she said. "I will say I’ve been here before and I got through it and I’ve shared my story and my light, and I’m hoping I can do that again."
In a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly, a rep for Mortensen said his "number one priority here is protecting" their son. "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. It's been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well.”
"He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away,” the rep continued. “He's never done any kind of sitdown interview about his side. He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can't do that."
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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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
