While there was a group of Bachelor Nation fans who predicted Taylor Frankie Paul as the next Bachelorette, there was a much larger group of viewers who were absolutely shocked by the appointment. Taylor Frankie Paul isn’t just the first The Bachelorette lead not to have a prior tie to the franchise; she’s also the first lead who has had a very public violent arrest and conviction. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is a felon at the moment, and casting her appears to completely disregard any vetting rules the franchise claimed to once have in place. While the network is clearly hoping for a ratings boost, we can’t help but look back at Paul’s arrest. It’s pretty intense.

Why was Taylor Frankie Paul arrested?

Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested in February 2023 in Herriman, Utah, on multiple charges. Police were called to the home after a domestic violence report was called in. There, they found Paul and her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. According to police reports, Paul and Mortensen had an argument before Paul began throwing barstools and chairs. One barstool hit her daughter, the five. Her oldest son was also present during the attack. Mortensen is not the father of either child.

Paul told police that Mortensen attacked her first, inside the garage of their home, but there was no evidence to corroborate the story. There were video recordings of her attack inside the home. Mortensen told police that Paul kicked him, put him in a chokehold, and hit him multiple times.

Paul later accepted a plea deal. She pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault charge and agreed to substance abuse treatment and probation. The prosecution dropped all other charges in exchange for the plea. Paul’s probation will be reviewed in August 2026. She described the incident as the darkest point in her life, placing it as much worse than her “soft swinging” scandal.

When did Dakota Mortensen and Taylor Frankie Paul break up?

While Taylor Frankie Paul was convicted of assaulting Dakota Mortensen in 2023, their relationship didn’t actually end then. The couple continued their romance following her arrest, although fans and followers had plenty of opinions on that decision. The duo, whose entire relationship was tumultuous, actually welcomed a child together after the incident. Their son, Ever True, was born in March 2024, just over a year after the domestic violence arrest.

They split for the final time in December 2024, with Paul accusing Mortensen of cheating on her. The infidelity was covered on season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Mortensen recently revealed that there have been several hookups since the split. Paul claimed that they had spent time together following the end of their romance, too, but she suggested it wasn’t nearly as often and recent as Mortensen claims.

Despite their relationship status, Mortensen appears angry that Paul has taken on the role of the lead on The Bachelorette. At the very least, he seems a bit bitter about the entire thing. Paul anticipated that response, telling Alex Cooper during a Call Her Daddy appearance that she expected him to be “sad.”

Mortensen and Paul were never married. She was married to Tate Paul, divorcing in 2022 after five years of marriage. He has since remarried, although he has been keeping his private life private. Tate Paul has not commented on Taylor Frankie Paul’s appearance on The Bachelorette.