In March 2026, Utah police confirmed that Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen were involved in an ongoing domestic assault investigation
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The timing of the news coincides with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star's debut as The Bachelorette, which premieres on March 22
Paul has since spoken out about the investigation and confirmed that she's gone "no contact" with her ex-boyfriend, with whom she shares one son
Taylor Frankie Paul's ongoing domestic assault investigation took over headlines just a week before the premiere of her season ofThe Bachelorette— and she admitted that "the timing is hard."
"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," she told PEOPLE during a press preview for the show on March 17.
A day earlier, a Draper City Police Department spokesperson confirmed that there wasan open caseinvolvingThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar and her ex-boyfriend,Dakota Mortensen, and that "allegations have been made in both directions."
The situation with the former couple, who welcomed their son,Ever, in 2024, halted production on season 5 of their Hulu reality series.
"Taylor has some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens," a source told PEOPLE. "Until that resolves, they are off."
Paul was previouslyarrestedon charges of domestic violence in 2023 after an argument with Mortensen that reportedly occurred in the presence of the two minor children she shares with ex-husbandTate Paul. Six months after the incident, Paul entered a plea in abeyance to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault. She ultimately served one day in jail, and her four other charges were dismissed.
Here's everything Taylor Frankie Paul has said about her ongoing legal troubles ahead ofThe Bachelorette's March 22 premiere.
Paul admitted that her "heart hurts" over the headlines
On March 17, Paul broke her silence on the ongoing domestic assault investigation she and Mortensen are involved in, telling PEOPLE that her "heart hurts" to see the news regarding her case.
"It's just heavy," she confessed, noting the difficulty of the timing with the release ofThe Bachelorette. "It's a heavy time, and it's unfortunate. 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."
She added, "I just feel like it was the right thing to do ... show up even though it's hard."
She said she has "no contact" with Mortensen
Paul confirmed toEntertainment Weeklyon March 17 that she "took action" a few weeks earlier and severed all contact with Mortensen. "I'm just doing third-party everything — pick-up, drop-offs, communication — so no contact right now for me," she explained.
The Bachelorettelead went on to say that the arrangement was "the best case" and that she had hope to "not make it a big deal" for the sake of their son. "I didn't want to bring anything to the public eye," she claimed. "But that wasn't the plan for him."
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A rep for Mortensen addressed Paul's comments, tellingEntertainment Weeklythat Mortensen's "number one priority here is protecting" their son,denying the implicationthat he had something to do with their case going public.
"He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor," the rep continued. "It's been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well."
She gave additional insight into where her relationship with Mortensen stands during an interview withExtrathat same day, noting that though they had an "addictive cycle" in the past, it's not how she feels about him now.
Paul calledThe Bachelorettean escape from "toxicity"
Regarding signing on forThe Bachelorette, Paul has "no regrets" about saying yes to the opportunity, and that filming the series got her out of the "toxicity" she was in back home in Utah.
"It was like the best thing I could have done," the reality star told PEOPLE, noting that dating men with "different personalities" changed not only her perspective on relationships but the way she saw herself.
"There was a lot of reassurance in who I am, you know, from all these men being just kind and gentle and gentlemen," Paul said. "It kind of brought out my true side of who I am and honestly belief in me, value, worth ... they made me feel reassured in that and reminded me of that."
She toldGMAshe's "been here before"
Paul discussed the gravity of her situation in herfirst televised interviewsince the news of the domestic violence investigation broke, and noted that it's not the first time she's been in the public eye for painful allegations involving her personal life.
"When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it's like the end of the world, that's what it feels like — I'm not going to lie," Paul toldGood Morning Americaon March 18. "I will say I've been here before and I got through it and I've shared my story and my light, and I'm hoping I can do that again."
She added that while she hopes to speak out more about the situation when the time feels right, she is currently focused on being present — and beingThe Bachelorette.
"Honestly, it's been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time ofThe Bachelorettebeing released, and it's supposed to be a really exciting time," Paul said.
She added, "I'm a person that will always speak my truth and that's what I'm known for and so when the time is right, I will be. But right now just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this."
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