Earlier this week a “domestic assault investigation” was opened regarding Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. At the time, filming for the next season of Mormon Wives was paused. On Thursday afternoon, TMZ released a 2023 video appearing to show Paul fighting with Mortensen. At one point, she throws a stool at him, which, according to a police report, hit her then-five-year-old daughter and left her with a “goose egg on her head.” Paul was arrested after the incident, and the arrest was publicly known when she was cast in The Bachelorette, and THR reports that there has been some backlash since she was announced to lead ABC’s long-running dating series. The Hollywood Reporter reported later on Thursday afternoon that executives were previously aware of the arrest and charges, but hadn’t seen the video and didn’t know a child was involved before today.
In a statement to People, a spokesperson for Paul said she is “currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.” The statement reads elsewhere, “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.”
Paul’s tumultuous relationship with Mortensen is a recurring storyline on Mormon Wives. One of Paul’s castmates on that show, Mikayla Matthews, said that the other wives made the decision to stop filming, sharing on Instagram (via People) “It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on… We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”
This story has been updated with a statement from Paul’s team and additional reporting.
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