Dakota Mortensen Refutes Taylor Frankie Paul's Disturbing Allegations Following Emergence of Violent Video
Dakota Mortensen has publicly rejected Taylor Frankie Paul's assertions that he is orchestrating a "desperate" and "destructive campaign" against her, following the emergence of a 2023 video depicting a violent altercation between the two.
"Anyone who has viewed the video can see this is a deeply upsetting situation," Mortensen stated in a Thursday interview. "I am, unfortunately, accustomed to these unfounded allegations regarding me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. My focus remains on our son and his safety, and I hope Taylor will prioritize the same."
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Frankie Paul repeatedly attacked Dakota Mortensen during the 2023 incident in which she pled guilty to aggravated assault; video shows that one of her children was struck during the fight.
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 19, 2026
Trigger Warning. https://t.co/77CKYpLxvn pic.twitter.com/avr49EacY3
Paul's representative was not immediately available for comment regarding Mortensen's statements. The video, released on Thursday, features the "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star engaging in aggressive behavior, including hitting and throwing chairs at Mortensen, who is 33 years old.
In the unsettling footage, Paul's 8-year-old daughter, Indy, can be heard crying in the background. "Your daughter just got hit in the head with a metal chair," Mortensen is heard telling Paul during the incident. To which Paul retorted, "You did this. You threw me."
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, Paul informed officers that Mortensen had thrown her to the ground before he began recording the altercation. A spokesperson for Paul later claimed that the video was "selectively edited," suggesting it conveniently left out crucial context.
The representative further criticized Mortensen's actions as part of a "never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child."
At that time, Paul faced arrest and was charged with assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in front of a minor; however, she later asserted that those charges were dropped.
In a further escalation of events, Mortensen filed for a restraining order against Paul on Tuesday, alleging that she had attacked him twice in February. Reports indicate that Mortensen accused Paul of choking him and making threats to harm herself. He also sought temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever.
Filming for the upcoming season of "SLOMW" has been suspended amid the ongoing domestic violence investigation. Additionally, ABC announced the cancellation of the new season of "The Bachelorette," which was set to feature Paul. "In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have decided not to proceed with the new season of 'The Bachelorette' at this time; our focus is on supporting the family," the network stated.
Paul expressed gratitude for ABC's support in prioritizing her family's safety and security following the cancellation. "After years of silently enduring extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally finding the strength to confront her accuser and is taking steps to ensure she and her children are protected from any further harm," her representative remarked.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
