What to know about Dakota Mortensen, Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex-boyfriend

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Taylor Frankie Paul, a reality TV star, and her former boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, are currently involved in domestic violence investigations that have gained widespread media attention.

After video of a physical fight between Paul and a woman circulated online in 2023, ABC canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” that Paul was scheduled to star in. The woman, identified as Mortensen, claims she didn’t share the video, which shows Paul physically attacking her, including kicking and throwing metal barstools, while her daughter witnessed the incident and cried.

The former couple has a young child together, named Ever. Paul also has two stepchildren from his ex-partner’s previous relationship with Tate Paul.

A complicated relationship between Mortensen and Paul is a key part of the popular Hulu series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Production on the show’s fifth season – which follows a group of Utah social media influencers (often called MomTok) as they deal with marriage, friendships, and their faith – has been temporarily stopped while an investigation takes place. Here are five important facts about Mortensen.

Entertainment & Arts

This is a breakdown of how Hulu’s ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ gained popularity, along with details of the domestic violence investigations involving Taylor Frankie Paul.

Before ‘Mormon Wives,’ there was ‘The Island’

Born in Caldwell, Idaho in 1993, Mortensen grew up with four siblings. He gained early recognition on NBC’s reality show “The Island,” where 14 men attempted to survive for a month on a deserted island. Hosted by Bear Grylls, the show revealed that Mortensen, then 21 years old, came from a family bird farm and had surprisingly never been to the ocean or traveled outside of the United States, as reported by US Weekly.

He has worked in tiling and real estate

According to his Instagram profile, Mortensen owned Basin Tiling, a Caldwell-based company that offered tiling services. It was established in 2020 but is no longer in business, according to records from the Idaho Secretary of State.

In December 2024, Viggo Mortensen announced on Instagram that he was starting a career in real estate. He shared a professional headshot and explained that he’d held a real estate license for quite some time but hadn’t actively worked in the field until now.

In early 2025, Mortensen began working at Presidio Real Estate, a Utah firm specializing in new construction, as announced on their Instagram page. Presidio Real Estate was previously showcased on the Bravo reality show “Sold on SLC,” which only lasted one season.

Lifestyle influencer and DadToker

Mortensen has gained a large following on social media, with over 830,000 followers on TikTok and nearly 290,000 on Instagram. He shares content about his daily life, wellness, and family, and has recently promoted creatine supplements and a calorie-tracking app that uses AI. He currently has temporary custody of his son, Ever, who often appears in his video blogs. Mortensen is one of the husbands from the show “Mormon Wives” who is part of DadTok, a social media group similar to the popular MomTok.

Entertainment & Arts

Taylor Frankie Paul, who appeared on the show ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ is being investigated for a third claim of domestic violence, this time filed by her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.

History of substance abuse

In a November 2025 interview with the podcast “Recoverycast,” Viggo Mortensen openly discussed his journey overcoming drug addiction. He explained that it began in high school when, as a basketball player, he experienced knee pain. A friend shared painkillers with him, which ultimately led to his addiction.

He explained on the show that his pain medication initially led to him using other drugs, like M30 pills and heroin. He shared details about his path to recovery, including setbacks that caused him to be discharged from rehab, and his battles with withdrawal symptoms and feelings of hopelessness.

Honestly, being on “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was incredibly challenging. Looking back, it was probably the biggest test of my recovery journey so far. The intense public attention that came with the show really pushed me, and it was a tough time to stay strong in my sobriety.

He explained that he’s become very anxious and worried lately. He now carries eye drops with him everywhere because his eyes often become red and sensitive, and he doesn’t want people to assume he’s using drugs.

By June 2025, sources confirmed that Mortensen had been sober for over three years. In a December Instagram video, he shared that he was proud of maintaining his sobriety, even during what he described as the most difficult period of his life.

Television

The reality star was just about to appear on a new dating show when a cast member from ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ caused a problem, stopping things from moving forward. Now, it’s unclear what will happen next.

He was previously married to his high school sweetheart

According to the Sun, he was married to Kenna Rae Hopkins, a registered nurse, from 2015 until 2017. He revealed on a podcast that they separated because he kept his drug use a secret from her. Hopkins was his high school sweetheart.

Mortensen and Paul first connected on social media and announced they were dating on TikTok in September 2022. Their relationship has faced challenges, including rumors of infidelity, which are now being featured in a TV show they’re involved with.

In 2023, Paul was arrested and admitted to aggravated assault following a fight with Mortensen. The incident was featured on the first season of the show “Mormon Wives.”

Paul and his ex-partner are currently subjects of two separate police investigations. According to a Draper Police Department statement to People magazine earlier this month, both individuals have accused each other of domestic assault, and an investigation is ongoing.

I was shocked to learn that back in February, Mortensen actually filed a police report claiming Paul was abusive towards them two years ago, sometime in early or mid-2024. It’s just really upsetting to hear about this now.

Mortensen is reportedly now dating former 49ers cheerleader Emma Shippen.

Voices

Commentary: ABC thought Taylor Frankie Paul would amp ‘Bachelorette’ ratings. It was playing with fire

Look, I’m a big reality TV fan, and I get that drama is part of the deal. But with Taylor Frankie Paul on ‘The Bachelorette,’ they were practically begging for trouble. Honestly, it wasn’t a shock when things really blew up – they were just playing with fire, and they got burned.

His next project

Viggo Mortensen will be featured in a new YouTube series called “Unwell Winter Games” from Alex Cooper, the creator of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. The series, which includes reality TV stars and influencers known for being controversial, will premiere on April 6th, according to Variety.

Unwell announced on Instagram that their show will include 19 cast members. They include Demi Engemann, who previously appeared on “Mormon Wives,” Anna Delvey, a convicted fraudster, and Huda Mustafa from “Love Island USA” Season 7. People magazine reports that Mustafa faced criticism for laughing during a racial slur directed at a fellow contestant and is also involved in a temporary restraining order filed by her boyfriend’s ex.

According to Variety, the competition will take place in a luxurious chalet in Park City, Utah. Contestants will face both mental and physical challenges over a four-day period.

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2026-03-31 13:32