Mormon Wives Star's Life Unravels Amidst DV Claims

The fifth season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is exploring the tumultuous events that nearly stopped the series. Production was halted in March 2026 by Hulu after domestic violence investigations were opened by two Utah police departments concerning Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen, parents to a 2-year-old son. Paul admits to continuing to sleep with Mortensen despite her engagement and his own girlfriend, eventually realizing their dynamic was toxic. She communicated her decision to end things via text, citing emotional pain and an inability to overcome his actions with another person. She expressed shame and misery from her behavior, feeling she had become a person she disliked.

Paul also recounted an incident where Mortensen's friend allegedly made false reports to Child Protective Services (CPS). She stated that the report claimed she fought with Mortensen on a highway, endangered their son Ever, and staged an assault. Paul refuted these claims, asserting Ever was never in the car and that cameras would corroborate her account. The women of MomTok expressed concern, with one suggesting dire consequences for Paul and Mortensen. Production paused after this call and resumed three months later without Paul.

The ongoing legal disputes between Paul and Mortensen, stemming from the February investigations, have been significant. Paul has accused Mortensen of stalking and assault, while he has submitted evidence of injuries. Both parties were granted mutual protective orders in April 2026. Court proceedings have also addressed custody of Ever, with Paul's visitation rights expanded in July 2026. Additionally, Utah's Division of Child and Family Services filed a petition seeking a finding of abuse, neglect, or dependency regarding Paul's three children, with a hearing scheduled.

Paul has publicly disputed allegations made in the DCFS petition, including claims about her children's care. She stated that her children would choose to be with her, expressing confidence in her love for them. The trailer for season 5 hints at the escalating conflict between Paul and Mortensen, who has a tattoo of Paul's initials on his lip, with cast members questioning the situation. The season left viewers on a cliffhanger, with a return to production three months later showing the women without Paul.