We talked to ‘Bachelorette’ Taylor Frankie Paul. Then reality hit pause on her TV career

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“The best way I can describe it is, it’s an addiction,” says Taylor Frankie Paul.

During a February 19th interview, the star of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” spoke about her relationship problems while sitting in a quiet Starbucks inside a Salt Lake City hotel. Viewers of the show are already well aware of the difficulties, and now the story is reaching a wider audience.

A recent argument with her sometimes-partner sparked a police investigation, which was widely reported this week. Then, a video surfaced showing a different argument from 2023, causing a temporary halt to her new reality show, “The Bachelorette,” just three days before it was scheduled to begin.

Her journey to public attention started with #Momtok, a TikTok community she founded for Mormon mothers in Utah. This group became known for sharing fun, choreographed dances and glimpses into their daily lives. However, she gained wider recognition in 2022 when she publicly discussed an arrangement she and her then-husband, Tate Paul, had made regarding open relationships – specifically, pursuing intimacy with other couples while remaining faithful to each other. She admitted to breaking this agreement by developing an emotional connection with someone else. This controversial revelation, dubbed the “soft-swinging” scandal, quickly spread across social media and ultimately led to the creation of the popular Hulu series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Throughout the show’s four seasons, much of the story has focused on her complicated relationship with Dakota Mortensen, who she began dating after her divorce.

The show followed Paul as she prepared to become the next “Bachelorette,” her biggest break yet, but her relationship with the father of her youngest son, Ever – Mortensen – continued to be complicated and unpredictable right up to the last moments. She almost derailed the start of filming for the ABC dating series when she missed her flight to Los Angeles after spending the night with Mortensen. Fortunately, she was able to catch a later flight.

She explained she was still caught in a harmful pattern and hadn’t even been able to watch the finale of “Sister Wives.” That’s why she felt she needed to get away and do “The Bachelorette,” if that made sense. She admits she struggles to explain it to others because she doesn’t fully understand it herself. She compares the situation to an addiction, saying the negativity felt like a drug. It was always manipulative, and she kept falling for it, which she finds frustrating. She gets tired of trying to explain it to others, admitting she’s more upset with herself than with anyone else.

A 31-year-old mother of three was chosen to star in the latest season of “The Bachelorette” because producers thought her honest, open personality would be relatable to viewers. However, just before the season premiered on Sunday, reports emerged about possible domestic violence involving her and her partner, Mortensen. Police in Draper City, Utah, have confirmed they are investigating, but aren’t releasing details while the investigation is ongoing. Sources say both individuals made claims about incidents that occurred on February 24th and 25th, shortly after an interview with producers. So far, no charges have been filed.

Paul had legal trouble with Mortensen before, pleading guilty to aggravated assault in 2023 after an altercation—other charges were dismissed. This earlier incident was shown on the first season of “Mormon Wives.” When TMZ released a video of a more recent incident on Thursday, Disney decided to postpone the premiere of “The Bachelorette.” Disney stated they are prioritizing support for the family involved. It’s currently unclear if the season will eventually air or be edited before release, according to a source.

According to a statement from her representative, Taylor Paul is thankful for ABC’s support while focusing on her family’s well-being. The statement also revealed that Paul experienced significant mental and physical abuse and was threatened with repercussions.

Filming for Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” started in January, but cameras weren’t rolling when the recent incidents occurred. Paul was busy promoting his appearance on “The Bachelorette” at the time. Hulu and ABC have not commented on the investigation, and Mortensen could not be reached for a statement. Production on “Mormon Wives” is currently paused, and a decision about Paul’s future on the show hasn’t been made, a source says.

The drama surrounding Paul is now affecting both shows. What started as an attempt to combine the audiences of ABC’s long-running dating show and Hulu’s new reality series has become a cautionary tale. It shows how pushing a successful show too soon can backfire. This situation also highlights the important discussion about background checks and oversights in reality TV, and how much viewers are drawn to scandalous behavior, especially those who are already fans of the genre.

How the ‘Mormon Wives’ crossover took shape

Traditional TV is struggling as more people watch shows through streaming services and social media. Disney is trying a new approach by combining its TV channel, ABC, with its streaming service, Hulu, to get the most viewers for its reality shows. “Mormon Wives” has been a big part of this strategy, releasing four seasons quickly. Recently, two of the show’s stars competed on “Dancing With the Stars.” Now, a cast member, Paul, is becoming the first lead on “The Bachelorette” who hasn’t appeared on “The Bachelor” before.

Before the news about Paul surfaced, The Times interviewed Robert Mills, head of Walt Disney Television Alternative, and show producers. They discussed how the company was working together across its different channels to create more engaging content and keep viewers interested.

According to Mills, a long-time executive at ABC known for unscripted programming, this strategy helps the company stand out, especially as it aims to expand Hulu’s unscripted offerings and compete with streaming services that already have a lot of content. They started brainstorming ways to use this approach with “Seeking Sister Wives” even before the show launched. While producers of “Dancing With the Stars” were finalizing the cast for season 33, Mills mentioned discussions about featuring one of the women from the new show as a contestant that fall, timed to coincide with its premiere.

He recalls thinking, ‘If the show isn’t renewed for another season, we’ll definitely get someone else next time, you could just sense it.’ He explains that once ‘Mormon Wives’ became popular, the decision to continue with the show became certain.

Having a cast member from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” compete on “Dancing With the Stars” naturally sparked some interest from viewers of both shows. But filming that journey on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” added another layer to the story, potentially making it even more engaging. The producers even decided to include two cast members from the show in the same season, hoping to create some exciting competition. That’s exactly what they did.

Season three of “Mormon Wives” followed Affleck and Leavitt as they tried out for “Dancing with the Stars,” showing their pitch to ABC. Season four then detailed their experience on the show, including relocating their families to Los Angeles and the issues that ultimately led to their departure.

It’s common for Disney’s various brands to work together, and that’s especially true on “Dancing With the Stars.” The show regularly features a “Disney Night” where contestants dance to songs from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel movies. Plus, contestants from the “Bachelor” franchise have appeared on the show before. However, finding the right balance when storylines overlap requires careful handling.

According to Conrad Green, showrunner of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ they scheduled times for the ‘Mormon Wives’ crew to film rehearsals, and always had a producer on hand to capture any significant moments for their show. He describes it as an informal understanding – they were sharing talent with another program, so collaboration was essential and beneficial for everyone involved.

As a big fan of reality TV, I’ve noticed successful shows often expand with spin-offs, and it sounds like that’s being discussed for “Mormon Wives” too, at least when the interviewer spoke with the producers. But right now, what really defines the show is its strategy of crossing over with other series. Season three had a huge crossover with Hulu’s “Vanderpump Villa,” featuring former Bravo star Lisa Vanderpump and her team. Remember Demi Engemann and Jessi Ngatikaura from season two of “Villa”? They got caught up in some serious drama with a staff member, Marciano Brunette, who claimed to have had relationships with both of them. Now, in the fourth season of “Mormon Wives,” they’re revisiting that crossover, and even some of the husbands are getting involved with their own trip to the “Villa,” which, naturally, is stirring up even more drama.

Paul joining “The Bachelor” franchise is part of its ongoing attempt to stay relevant and attract new viewers as the show gets older, though these efforts haven’t always been successful. Recent changes include casting its first Black male lead in 2021 and, last year, launching “Golden Bachelor” to appeal to older audiences.

Paul’s playful TikTok video from June 2025, where she jokingly announced her search for love as a single mom, caught the attention of the show’s publicists. This sparked conversations, and when someone suggested bringing in an outside star for “The Bachelorette,” showrunner Scott Teti decided to explore the idea further.

I knew the name, of course—it’s hard to avoid it. But I hadn’t actually seen her show, so I had to learn more about her first. Right away, you can tell she’s incredibly honest, maybe even too honest. While her level of fame might seem distant to most people, her story is actually quite relatable—she’s a single mom who’s had tough relationships but still hopes to find love.

He explains that while she initially felt out of place, she quickly adapted and began to open up. She allowed herself to be vulnerable and embraced the possibility of a relationship. Her independent spirit, and not worrying about others’ opinions, also added an exciting dynamic. He believes this season is particularly compelling because of these key moments and will keep viewers engaged.

At least that was the plan.

When we met, Paul was comfortably dressed in beige lounge pants and a large T-shirt with mushrooms on it. Despite seeming a bit tired as she juggled commitments between filming season four of “Mormon Wives” and preparing to be “The Bachelorette,” she was very friendly. She showed us some TikTok videos that she said perfectly captured how she was feeling – one featured a man jokingly saying he’d rather be difficult than deal with his feelings. Paul, who is used to reaching a large audience with viral content, thinks these videos are a smart way to promote her work, but also recognizes they could create some tension within the #MomTok community.

She believes it’s great to see so many different paths people are taking, especially on platforms like #MomTok. However, she also thinks this abundance of options can be a downside, potentially leading to people drifting apart as they focus on their own individual pursuits. This could strain friendships, create envy, and foster competition.

To keep the show engaging as the actors become more famous and take on other projects – like when Leavitt stars in “Chicago” on Broadway – the series should acknowledge and include those real-life experiences, instead of ignoring them.

Andrea Metz, the showrunner for “Mormon Wives,” explains that the show doesn’t avoid directly addressing the realities of the cast’s lives. She believes viewers appreciate this honesty, and that watching the cast become well-known has been a fast-paced but positive experience.

And the highs and lows are in full view, as this week proves.

Was she ready for ‘The Bachelorette’?

The effect on #MomTok—the group’s ability to handle conflict and drama each season—is already becoming clear in the news.

Even before the recent accusations against Paul surfaced on “The Bachelorette,” some viewers questioned how seriously she took the show, given her quick transition from filming “Mormon Wives.” She had only one day between wrapping up the first show and starting “The Bachelorette,” and Paul herself admits she wasn’t sure she was emotionally prepared for the experience.

She admits she wasn’t prepared, but believes being ready is a choice – you just have to take action. She describes the experience as a kind of recovery process, a complete break from the situation. She completely cut off contact with her co-parent, which she felt was essential, regardless of her readiness, just to create some distance. Ultimately, she also wanted to meet someone and fall in love.

Being on ‘The Bachelorette’ was incredibly challenging, but also a wonderful experience. I’m a mom, and I wasn’t just focused on finding love for myself. It was emotionally draining to date so many men in their twenties, constantly giving each conversation my full attention, day in and day out. It really takes a toll on your mind.

She then wonders if their relationship finally ended the pattern she’d experienced with Mortensen.

She said it definitely made a difference. While she can’t talk about what’s happening on the show right now, she promises everything will become clear soon.

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2026-03-20 02:32