Mormon Wives' Taylor Frankie Paul Breaks Silence on Domestic Assault Allegation
There’s no rose without its thorns.
While Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming debut as the Bachelorette has been shadowed by a domestic dispute that occurred in February between her and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, she is embracing her journey.
"I'm a person that will always speak my truth—that's what I'm known for," Taylor told GMA's Lara Spencer during her March 18 appearance. "So, when the time is right I will be. But right now, just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this, but the thing is my kids do come first."
Taylor—mom to 23-year-old son Ever with Dakota and two kids with ex-husband Tate Paul—added, "It's been a back and forth process, just trying to be here in the present moment, worrying about home, and headlines. It's been stressful, to be honest."
The 31-year-old’s appearance comes just two days after news that filming for season five of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had been paused in light of the incident between Taylor and her ex—with whom she shares 23-month-old son Ever—which the Draper City Police Department confirmed on March 16 was an open “domestic assault investigation.”
As for the pause on filming, Taylor—an executive producer on the reality series—noted she doesn't "call the shots with production" and that while she has "gotten word that there's a pause," she doesn't know for how long.
Disney/Michael Kirchoff) (Photo by Michael Kirchoff/Disney via Getty Images
But before Taylor stepped in front of the cameras on Good Morning America, she addressed her feelings surrounding the incident.
"My heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time," Taylor told People on March 17. "Just the timing is hard, and it's a big deal. I feel like every premiere that I've experienced, I've never enjoyed fully, so this is another one... It's extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today."
"It's just heavy. It's a heavy time, and it's unfortunate," the MomTok influencer continued. "I'm struggling for sure, but also at the same time I feel like if I don't show up, then I'm just giving these opportunities away and not enjoying what we've worked on and something super exciting that's coming."
And despite it feeling “hard” to show up to press events at this time, Taylor told People she did so because it was “the right thing to do.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Sara Jaye/Getty Images for Arby's
As for Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, two sources confirmed to E! News that filming had indeed paused after the incident, with one source close to production saying the hiatus will last two to three weeks.
"Dakota only really cares about protecting Ever, that’s his first priority," the source said. "He wants a good co-parenting relationship with Taylor."
Meanwhile, a separate source with knowledge told E! News Taylor wants to “protect her son, Ever, from stories in the press or anything negative about his father and wants him to think well of his father," adding, “Taylor owns her mistakes."
E! News has reached out to reps for Dakota and Taylor about the allegations but hasn't received a comment.
For more on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast, read on.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Mayci Neeley
TikTok: 2.6 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.2 Million Followers
Mayci Neeley is married to Jacob Neeley with a blended family of three kids.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Taylor Frankie Paul
TikTok: 5.8 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.9 Million Followers
Taylor Frakie Paul shares two kids with her ex-husband and welcomed her third child with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Whitney Leavitt
TikTok: 3.2 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.1 Million Followers
Whitney Leavitt has three kids with her husband Conner Leavitt.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Layla Taylor
TikTok: 771K Followers
Instagram: 674K Followers
Layla Taylor is mom to two kids, who she shares with her ex-husband.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Demi Engemann
TikTok: 1.2 Million Followers
Instagram: 696K Followers
Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann have a blended family with three kids.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Jessi Ngatikaura
TikTok: 1.4 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.1 Million Followers
Jessi Ngatikaura shares a daughter, son and stepdaughter with her husband Jordan Ngatikaura.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Jen Affleck
TikTok: 2.5 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.4 Million Followers
Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck have three kids together.
Disney/Pamela Littky
Mikayla Matthews
TikTok: 3.3 Million Followers
Instagram: 1.2 Million Followers
Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry are parents to four kids.
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