Reality Star Dakota Mortensen Edited Out of Vanderpump Villa Amid Domestic Violence Investigation
Dakota Mortensen, the reality television personality who gained fame through the Hulu series Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, will be completely edited out of the forthcoming third season of Vanderpump Villa. This decision comes in response to an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Mortensen and his ex-girlfriend, fellow reality star Taylor Frankie Paul.
Production Company Takes Decisive Action
According to a report from Variety, Mortensen had filmed guest appearances for Vanderpump Villa during production in autumn, but his entire storyline will now be redacted from the final edit. The production company behind the show, which falls under the Disney Entertainment Television umbrella, has made this significant editorial choice as multiple police investigations into domestic violence allegations continue to unfold.
The Independent has reached out to both Disney representatives and Mortensen's team for official comment regarding this development. This editing decision follows a similar pattern of network responses to the controversy, with ABC having previously pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled release.
Multiple Police Investigations Underway
The Draper City Police Department in Utah has confirmed that "allegations have been made in both directions" regarding domestic incidents between Paul and Mortensen. Officers made contact with the involved parties on February 24th and 25th, though no formal charges have been filed at this stage of the investigation.
Subsequently, the West Jordan Police Department in Utah has reportedly opened a third investigation into domestic violence allegations involving the former couple. These investigations follow a pattern of documented incidents, including Paul's arrest for aggravated assault during the series premiere of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in 2024, which resulted in probation for the reality star.
Network Responses and Statements
When ABC cancelled Paul's season of The Bachelorette, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson stated: "In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family." The referenced video appears to show Paul attacking Mortensen during a 2023 incident that led to an arrest.
Following the cancellation, Paul's representatives released a statement indicating she was "grateful for ABC's support" and would be "prioritizing her family's safety and security." The statement further claimed that "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."
Background of the Controversial Couple
Mortensen and Paul rose to prominence through their appearances on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which became Hulu's most-watched unscripted premiere of 2024. The series was commissioned following the viral "soft swinging" scandal involving a group of influencer mothers who were current or former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The couple began dating in 2022 and welcomed their son, Ever True Mortensen, in March 2024 before separating that September. Their relationship has been described as "on-again, off-again" throughout their time in the public eye.
In response to the surfacing of the 2023 incident video, a representative for Mortensen told Entertainment Weekly on March 18 that "his number one priority here is protecting [their 1-year-old son], Ever." The representative added that Mortensen "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" for co-parenting purposes.
Future Projects and Ongoing Developments
Despite the editing out from Vanderpump Villa, Mortensen is scheduled to appear in a YouTube reality competition series produced by Alex Cooper, which is set to begin streaming on April 6. Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether ABC plans to air Paul's season of The Bachelorette at a later date once investigations have concluded.
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or through the Refuge website. A dedicated men's advice line operates on 0808 8010 327. Those in the United States can contact the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), with other international helplines available via www.befrienders.org.
