Taylor Frankie Paul Opens Up About Domestic Violence Allegations Before ‘Bachelorette’

Taylor Frankie Paul has addressed domestic violence allegations head-on, admitting the attack feels like “the end of the world” as she continues to endure public scrutiny in the days leading up to the premiere of “The Bachelorette.”

The Draper City Police Department says domestic abuse is “alleged on both sides,” referring to Paul and his ex-girlfriend Dakota Mortensen, People reports. According to the authorities, “contacts have been made with those concerned [Feb] 24 and 25.”

The alleged incident happened just weeks before Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” aired on March 22.

“Honestly, it’s been a tough time to see the headlines, especially during this season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ and it should be a really exciting time,” Paul said during an appearance on “Good Morning America.” “I’m someone who will always speak my truth and that’s what I’m known for so when the time is right, I will be. But right now, I’m just trying to be in the moment and focus on this.”

“My children come first,” Paul insisted. “My kids come first, so it’s been kind of a back-and-forth process trying to be here in the present, you know, worrying about home and topics. It’s been straining to be honest.”

Paul confirmed filming for the fifth season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has been suspended, but said he did not know why. The reality TV star has admitted she’s not sure what her future holds on the show as she tackles allegations of domestic violence for a second time.

“It’s hard to see beyond this – I’m not going to lie – in this moment, it’s very difficult,” Paul said. “When your life is 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.”

“I will say that I’ve been here before, and I’ve been through it, and I’ve shared my story and my light, and I hope I can do that again,” he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Draper Police Department for more information.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” premieres March 22. (Michael Kirchoff / Disney)

A representative for Mortensen told Entertainment Weekly that he is not the one making the domestic violence investigation public.

“His priority here is defense [their 2-year-old son]Ever,” said the rep. “He knew it might happen, but he wasn’t going to be the one to do it because he always wanted a good relationship with Taylor. It was really hard to achieve that, but you want to cooperate with the parent well. “

“He was hoping that if he didn’t say anything, like he usually does, it would pass. He never did any kind of sit-down interview about his side,” the representative continued. “He just lets everything happen to him, and I think he realizes with the difficulty of everything now that he can’t do that.”

Taylor Frankie Paul’s relationship with Dakota Mortensen was featured in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” (Fred Hayes/Disney)

Authorities arrested Paul back in 2023 on charges of aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence involving a child, child abuse and criminal mischief.

The complaint, filed in 2023, alleges that Paul threw a telephone, a wooden theater and “heavy metal chairs” at Mortensen. One of the chairs is said to have hit one of her children who was sitting next to her boyfriend at the time on the couch when they were arguing.

Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, four other charges were dropped.

Taylor Frankie Paul shares a two-year-old son with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

“It was regrettable,” he previously told Fox News Digital about his arrest. “Hitting the rock, there’s only one way to go, and it helped me up. So, honestly, as bad as that night was – I think it was also like a blessing in disguise and maybe I could have saved my life in a weird way, like, where I was drowning in grief.”

Paul shares a son with Mortensen. The two officially ended their relationship in December 2024, after the birth of their son, but have been in regular contact ever since.

Paul shares two children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.