Production on the reality television series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been officially paused following a domestic assault investigation involving cast member Taylor Frankie Paul and her former partner Dakota Mortensen. The decision to halt filming was confirmed by co-star Mikayla Matthews during an Instagram Q&A session with fans on Wednesday.
Cast Unanimously Agrees to Pause
Matthews revealed that the entire cast collectively agreed to suspend production due to the ongoing legal situation surrounding Paul. 'It was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening,' Matthews explained, alluding to the serious nature of the allegations.
Police Investigation Details
The Draper City Police Department has confirmed an active domestic assault investigation involving both Paul and Mortensen. 'Allegations have been made in both directions,' a police spokesperson stated, noting that officers made contact with the involved parties on February 24 and 25.
According to sources speaking to People magazine, filming for the show's fifth season has been temporarily suspended while the legal matters are addressed. 'They are not filming,' an insider revealed. 'Taylor has some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens. Until that resolves, they are off.'
Previous Legal History
This is not Paul's first encounter with domestic violence allegations. In 2023, she was arrested after allegedly throwing chairs at Mortensen during an altercation, accidentally striking her five-year-old daughter Indy in the head. Paul ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, while four other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
As part of her sentencing, Paul was required to complete counseling, undergo substance abuse and domestic violence evaluations, and maintain a clean legal record moving forward.
Co-Parenting Complications
The current investigation has further complicated the co-parenting relationship between Paul and Mortensen, who share a toddler son named Ever. Paul told Entertainment Weekly that she and Mortensen are currently 'not in contact' and are using a third party for all communications regarding their child.
Mortensen's representative responded to Paul's statements, emphasizing that his primary concern is protecting their son. 'His number one priority here is protecting their son, Ever,' the representative stated, while denying that Mortensen was responsible for making the investigation public.
Impact on Other Projects
The timing of the investigation presents additional complications for Paul, whose upcoming season of The Bachelorette is scheduled to premiere on March 22. However, Variety has reported that the investigation is not expected to impact the show's release schedule or promotional activities.
Paul addressed the situation publicly, telling People magazine, 'It's a heavy time, and it's unfortunate.' Meanwhile, Mortensen's representative indicated that he had hoped the situation would resolve quietly without public attention. 'He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away,' the representative explained.
Production Outlook
Despite the current hiatus, sources indicate that production on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is expected to resume in the near future. The temporary pause is not anticipated to significantly affect the scheduled release date for season five, and the alleged incident did not occur during filming.
Paul also has two other children from her previous marriage to Tate - daughter Indy and son Ocean. The ongoing investigation continues to unfold as both parties navigate the legal process and their co-parenting responsibilities.
