Dakota Mortensen, theex-partner of Taylor Frankie Paul,has reportedly filed a restraining order against the"Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star.
Mortensen, who also appears on the Hulu show, filed a protective orderagainst Paul, alleging she was physically violent towards him in a series of incidents in February, accordingto PeopleandE! News.Those allegations come on the heels ofconfirmation from local Utah policethat they were investigating a domestic dispute between the former couple, and that allegations of abuse had been made by both sides.
The two share one son, Ever. USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Paul for comment. A rep for Mortensen was not immediately available.
Taylor Frankie Paul took the reality TV world by storm in 2024 when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" became a cultural phenomenon. The "MomTok" influencer and most recent "Bachelorette" spoke candidly about her infamous "swinging scandal" and has faced legal troubles throughout the show. See her career in the spotlight, beginning here backstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Paul attends the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at The Kia Forum on Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, California. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Former NBA player Tacko Fall and Paul before the start of the game. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paul was named ABC's "Bachelorette" for 2026. She is the first "Bachelorette" lead to helm the franchise despite never appearing on "The Bachelor"." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paul attends the 2025 TIME100 Creators Launch Party at Gansevoort Rooftop on July 10, 2025, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paul at an event hosted by Hulu on April 22, 2025, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives" stars Layla Taylor, Miranda McWhorter, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Whitney Leavitt and Demi Engemann attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Season 2 at Paramount Studios on May 9, 2025, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left, Affleck, Paul, McWhorter, Neeley, and Matthews at SiriusXM Studios on May 8, 2025, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Mitchell Tenpenny and Paul speak onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 20, 2024, in Nashville." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paul poses on the red carpet before the CMAs." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> See 'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul's life in the spotlight
Taylor Frankie Paultook the reality TV world by storm in 2024 when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" became a cultural phenomenon. The "MomTok" influencer and most recent "Bachelorette" spoke candidly about her infamous "swinging scandal" and hasfaced legal troubles throughout the show.See her career in the spotlight, beginning here backstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California.
'The Bachelorette,' Taylor Frankie Pauland why it's OK not to watch that horrific video
Investigation into the incident has led to a pause on production of Season 5 of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," a decision costarMikayla Matthewssaid the castmutually agreedon.
A new season of "The Bachelorette,"originallyset to air Sunday, starring Paul,has also since been scrapped by ABC. The network weathered some of the original fallout but pulled the plug on the season after footage depicting Paul and Mortensen during a 2023 incident was reported byTMZ.
"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," a spokesperson for ABC told USA TODAY Thursday. "Our focus is on supporting the family."
'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul,ex break silence on domestic dispute
Following news of "The Bachelorette" being pulled off the air, Paul's rep alleged in a statement to People andVarietythat the incident was part of a larger pattern of abuse the 31-year-old reality star had endured for years.
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"Taylor is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security," the statement from her spokesperson read. "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."
In his own statement toEntertainment Weeklyon March 18, Mortensen's rep said his priority is protecting their child and that while he knew news of the police investigation might surface ahead of Paul's "Bachelorette" run, his focus was on co-parenting.
"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," his rep told the outlet. "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."
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Paul was arrested following the 2023 incident depicted in the video on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according topolice.
She later entered a plea of abeyance to the aggravated assault charge, per local news stationKSLand theSalt Lake Tribune. While the other criminal charges were dropped, the aggravated assault charge will reportedly remain for three years until she meets the conditions of her plea deal.
"Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,"which has exploded in popularity since its 2024 premiere, has an ensemble cast, following the lives of several women who brand themselves "MomTok." Paul, the unofficial starof the series,rose to prominence after admitting on social media that she and another couple belonging to the Mormon churchwere "soft swinging."
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Taijuan Moorman, Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Taylor Frankie Paul's ex files restraining order amid investigation