Taylor Frankie Paul is breaking her silence after ABC opted to cancel the premiere of The Bachelorette.
Following an investigation into domestic abuse in which Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, were involved, which put The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 5 filming on pause, the fallout continued. A video of a 2023 incident surfaced on Thursday, March 19, where Paul is seen repeatedly physically attacking Mortensen, which led to ABC finally pulling the dating series.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a spokesperson for Paul said in a statement to People. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
On all the headlines surrounding Paul’s life amid the media tour for the premiere of the dating series, she told GMA, “It’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of The Bachelorette being released, and it’s supposed to be a really exciting time.”
“I’m a person that will always speak my truth, and that’s what I’m known for,” she continued. “When the time is right, I will [speak], but right now, [I’m] just trying to be in the present moment and focus on [The Bachelorette]. The thing is, my kids come first. And so it’s been just a back-and-forth process, trying to be here, the present moment, worrying about home and headlines. It’s been stressful, to be honest.”
The turbulent relationship between Paul and Mortensen has been documented since the first season of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The first season documents police arriving at Paul’s place following a domestic incident between the couple.
In 2023, Paul pled guilty to aggravated assault in the incident depicted in the video leaked today. Draper City Police Department confirmed that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving the pair, with allegations “made in both directions.” Paul also alleged wrongdoing on Mortensen’s part in the 2023 case.