Production on Season 5 of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" has resumed after a weeks-long pause tied to a domestic violence investigation involving cast member Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, Variety reported.
The show went on hold in mid-March after the police department of Draper City, Utah, opened an investigation into allegations both Paul and Mortensen made against each other following an incident in late February. That confrontation did not occur on camera. After review by multiple attorneys, a court announced earlier this month that Paul would not face any charges.
It remains unclear whether Paul or Mortensen will appear in the new season. The rest of the Season 5 cast includes Whitney Leavitt, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Jessi Draper, Miranda McWhorter, and Jen Affleck, along with their husbands and exes.
The February incident landed in a broader and more complicated context. In 2023, Paul was arrested and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against Mortensen. That earlier altercation had been covered during Season 1 of the show, but on March 19, TMZ published video of it that had previously only been shown in court. The footage showed Paul throwing metal barstools at Mortensen while one of her children was present nearby.
The publication of that video had immediate consequences. Disney pulled the scheduled March 22 premiere of a new season of "The Bachelorette," which had already been filmed with Paul as the lead. "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," the company said in a statement.
Paul's spokesperson responded shortly after, saying Paul "is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security." The statement described Paul as someone who had spent years "silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation" and said she was "finally gaining the strength to face her accuser." Both Paul and Mortensen have filed restraining orders against each other.
The path forward for Paul's involvement in "Mormon Wives" remains unresolved as production gets back underway.