2 months ago
Taylor Frankie Paul was already raising reddish flags pinch her “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” co-stars — weeks earlier she was axed arsenic nan adjacent “Bachelorette.”
During a Zoom gathering connected March 7, formed members from nan deed Hulu show sounded nan alarm, informing ABC executives they had superior concerns astir continuing nan show if Paul stayed involved, NBC News reported connected Thursday.
The tense telephone involving nan “Mormon Wives” formed came soon aft a February 2026 incident involving Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen — now portion of an unfastened home battle investigation successful Utah.
Three Disney execs were connected nan call, including Rob Mills, nan studio’s executive vice president of unscripted and replacement entertainment, according to audio of nan gathering obtained by nan outlet.
The formed flagged fears astir safety, reputational harm and nan early of nan bid arsenic allegations against Paul continued to mount.
One formed member, who was not identified, claimed they didn’t consciousness comfortable filming while Paul remains nether investigation.
“It’s a vulnerable situation, it’s a sad situation, and we don’t cognize really to navigate it, because Taylor is our friend,” they allegedly said astatine nan meeting.
But what appeared to rattle nan formed astir were alleged videos of Paul’s behavior, which respective members described arsenic “distressing” and “upsetting.” Ultimately, they agreed to region filming of Season 5.
Paul’s ineligible troubles day backmost to 2023, erstwhile she was arrested aft a abstracted home conflict pinch Mortensen, which was portion of nan storyline successful Season 1 of “Mormon Wives.”
She was charged pinch assault, criminal mischief and home unit successful nan beingness of a child.
Court records show she later pleaded blameworthy successful abeyance to aggravated battle successful 2025, while different charges were dismissed.
After “Mormon Wives” filming was placed connected clasp complete nan February 2026 incident, a disturbing video from 2023 surfaced showing Paul attacking Mortensen.
The video obtained by TMZ showed Paul pushing and kicking Mortensen arsenic he many times asked her to stop. It besides showed her throwing chairs astatine Mortensen arsenic her now-8-year-old daughter, Indy, cried nearby.
Paul’s spokesperson dismissed nan footage, calling it portion of a “never-ending, desperate” run by Mortensen to harm her “without immoderate respect for nan consequences for their child.”
Shortly aft nan video went public, ABC yanked nan plug connected Paul’s play of “The Bachelorette,” which was group to premiere Sunday.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support arsenic she prioritizes her family’s information and security,” a spokesperson for Paul exclusively told Page Six. “After years of silently suffering extended intelligence and beingness maltreatment arsenic good arsenic threats of retaliation, Taylor is yet gaining nan spot to look her accuser and taking steps to guarantee that she and her children are protected from immoderate further harm.
“There are excessively galore women who are suffering successful soundlessness arsenic they past aggressive, suspicious ex-partners who garbage to fto them move connected pinch their lives,” they added. “Taylor has remained silent retired of fearfulness of further abuse, retaliation, and nationalist shaming. She is presently exploring each of her options, seeking support, and preparing to ain and stock her story.”
If you aliases personification you cognize is affected by immoderate of nan issues raised successful this story, telephone nan National Domestic Violence Hotline astatine 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) aliases matter START to 88788.
