Taylor Frankie Paul Shares Honest Insights About Her Timeline with Dakota Mortensen and the Bachelorette Men
Amidst the recent developments following the airing of season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, questions arise regarding Taylor Frankie Paul’s openness about her relationship with ex-partner Dakota Mortensen on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. The two were seen together just hours before Paul departed for filming.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly at a press dinner in New York City on March 17, Taylor asserted that she was transparent with the male contestants. “I feel like I was very open with them, especially those that asked,” the 31-year-old said. “I wanted to tell them what they wanted to know.”
She expressed her determination to foster an open dialogue about her past as she interacted with the contestants. “Like, ‘Please ask anything. I am [a] very open book,’” she recounted. “Especially the ones towards the end, I was open with the situation.”
As the premiere of season 22 of The Bachelorette approaches on March 22, reports have surfaced regarding an incident involving Taylor and Dakota the previous month, which has reportedly delayed production on season 5 of Mormon Wives. The couple are parents to 23-month-old son Ever, and Taylor also has a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, from a previous marriage with Tate Paul.
In a statement to Us, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed an ongoing investigation into a “domestic assault” situation involving Taylor and Dakota, with allegations made in both directions. Addressing the incident in her interview, Taylor indicated that there is “more to the context to everything.”
“It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position,” she commented. “As a mother, I will always stand my ground on that. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well.” Taylor expressed her distress about misleading headlines, emphasizing, “I have always treated my children with respect and I’ve never touched them.”
The timing of the Bachelorette premiere and the press event was described by Taylor as “unfortunate,” given the ongoing allegations. “It’s another premiere that’s been taken away from me,” she lamented. “I’ve never enjoyed a premiere for any one of my shows. So it’s just been very sad.”
Regarding her future with Mormon Wives, Taylor told Good Morning America on March 18 that it is challenging to navigate her current circumstances. “When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it feels like the end of the world,” she said. “But I have been here before and I got through it and shared my story … so I’m hoping that I can do that again.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
