Taylor Frankie Paul Speaks Out Following Unexpected Bachelorette Show Cancellation

Taylor Frankie Paul has spoken out following the cancellation of her anticipated season of The Bachelorette, a result of a domestic violence controversy.

ABC decided to pull the plug on Paul’s season after a video surfaced showing her in an altercation with her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2023. This footage later served as pivotal evidence in a legal case where Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

The video, initially reported by TMZ, came amid news of another domestic dispute between Paul and Mortensen. Law enforcement officials noted that allegations had been made by both parties involved.

Paul’s representative, speaking on behalf of the 31-year-old reality star, expressed gratitude for the support received from ABC as she focuses on ensuring the safety and security of her family.

In a statement shared with People, her representative claimed that Paul has been enduring significant mental and physical abuse, along with threats of retaliation, behind the scenes.

The statement claims Paul is now ‘gaining the strength to face her accuser’ and is taking action to ensure she and her children will be safe from ‘further harm’.

Taylor Frankie Paul has broken her silence after her Bachelorette cancellation amid allegations of domestic assault 

‘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 rep continued. 

The rep claimed Paul had been staying quiet ‘out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and pubic shaming’ and is now ‘seeking support’, going through her options and ‘preparing to own and share her story.’ 

Mortensen has since shared in a statement: ‘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.’

The latest allegations may have put Paul into further trouble in regards to her 2023 case.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has now told TMZ that they are looking to determine if the new assault accusations may have violated her ongoing probation from that particular case.

‘We have received the police report for the new allegations, and it is our understanding the case is being screened by the Draper City prosecutor. We requested the police report so our prosecutors could evaluate how those new allegations may affect the case for which the defendant is currently on probation,’ Gill told TMZ.

The decision to cancel Paul’s season of The Bachelorette came hours after TMZ published video of the reality TV star apparently fighting with her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2023. 

In the video, Paul is seen repeatedly attacking Mortensen, with the video later becoming crucial evidence in a 2023 case in which she ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. 

Paul and Mortensen are now facing another investigation over allegations of domestic assault.  

The 31-year-old’s season of The Bachelorette was scheduled to begin on Sunday.

A Disney Entertainment spokesman told TMZ: ‘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.’

In the footage, she is seen having an outburst, throwing a stool at Mortensen, while a child, her daughter Indy, now eight, was present.

Mortensen, who was filming the incident, said in the clip: ‘This is called physical abuse.’

The child can be heard crying as Mortensen and Paul continued fighting. Mortensen then said, ‘Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair.’

The decision to cancel came hours after TMZ published a video of the reality TV star apparently fighting with her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2023

Together, they have a son named Ever, who is two years old.

Paul, a mother of three, was arrested after an alleged domestic violence incident in 2023 and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the third degree.

In response to the resurfaced footage, Paul’s representative told the Daily Mail, ‘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.’

But just two days before the video was made public, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah, citing a new alleged incident that took place in February, according to the outlet.

Mortensen has said in a statement that he denies the ‘baseless claims’ made ‘about me and our relationship’

Mortensen claimed that a verbal argument turned into a physical confrontation, where Paul allegedly choked him.

He alleged that he had to physically remove her hands from his neck, after which she shoved him into a window and struck him.

Describing the situation as ‘chaotic’ and ‘frightening,’ Mortensen said their son woke up from the commotion, which included Paul screaming and yelling, according to TMZ.

In the petition, Mortensen also referenced Paul’s previous 2023 arrest for assault.

As part of his filing, he has requested temporary custody of Ever and asked for Paul to be prohibited from drinking or using drugs during her parenting time. 

On Tuesday, it was reported that filming had paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

On Tuesday, it was reported that filming had paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives 

A cast member has since confirmed they decided to pause production in light of the latest domestic assault investigation.  

Mikayla Matthews broke her silence over the controversy when asked about the production pause during a Q&A with fans on her Instagram account on Wednesday.

She said the cast came to the decision together in light of ‘everything that was happening’ – alluding to the legal troubles surrounding Paul.

‘It was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening,’ she wrote.