Dakota Mortensen has been granted a temporary restraining order against The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul, as well as temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, as fallout from an ongoing domestic violence investigation continues.
Mortensen, who has been romantically involved with Paul on and off since 2022, sought a protective order Thursday, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed. In court documents obtained by TMZ, Mortensen alleges that on Feb. 23, Paul choked him during one incident, claiming that he had to use his hands to remove her hands from his neck. During a second incident on Feb 24., Mortensen claims in the court documents cited by TMZ, Paul attacked him in his car.
“I was unable to safely leave while this was happening, and my child had been left inside the home during the chaos under her watch due to our custody agreement,” Mortensen states in the docs. He also wrote that in self-defense, Mortensen “pushed her away from [him], which she made contact with the passenger seat.”
PEOPLE reported Friday that Mortensen has been granted a temporary restraining order against his ex and temporary custody of their son, Ever. A court hearing is set for April 7, where Paul will be allowed to give her side of the story.
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen with their newborn son Ever Mortensen in March 2024
Credit: Dakota Mortensen/ Instagram
EW has reached out to representatives for Mortensen and Paul for comment.
This latest development comes amid a firestorm of scandal engulfing Paul and Mortensen. Season 4 of Mormon Wives dropped on Hulu last week, but filming on season 5 was subsequently halted against the backdrop of Utah police opening an investigation into an alleged domestic assault incident involving Paul and Mortensen last month. Season 22 of The Bachelorette, featuring Paul in the titular role, was set to premiere Sunday as well. But ABC took the unprecedented step of scrapping the season on Thursday.
That decision came after TMZ surfaced a disturbing a video depicting a 2023 altercation between Paul and Mortensen.
“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,” a representative for Disney Entertainment Television told EW in a statement.
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A spokesperson for Paul said in a statement, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. 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.”
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the statement continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Mortensen subsequently said in a statement, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.”
The altercation depicted in the 2023 video landed Paul with charges of misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief, and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child. She subsequently pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault. As part of a plea deal, she was placed on probation — set to end in August — and prosecutors dropped the remaining charges.
Utah authorities are evaluating how the current domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Mortensen might affect her plea agreement.
“We have received the police report for the new allegations, and it is our understanding the case is being screened by the Draper City prosecutor,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told EW on Thursday. “We requested the police report so our prosecutors could evaluate how those new allegations may affect the case for which the defendant is currently on probation.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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