Mikayla Matthews reflected on Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen’s on-again, off-again relationship before the pair’s domestic violence allegations.
When the hosts of the “Comments by Celebs” podcast noted that the case seemed “more concerned with The Bachelorette of it all” than Taylor, 31, did on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 4, Mikayla, 26, and costar Mayci Neeley agreed.
“I think that’s kind of been a common theme with her. … I feel like anyone who’s going through a stressful period of time in their life. It’s hard for me to focus on these things, where Mayci would be like, ‘Oh my gosh, Mikayla, this is so important. Focus on this, focus on this, focus on this,’” Mikayla said on the Tuesday, March 17, episode. “And I feel like that’s kind of what we do with Taylor. Of course, we always want the best for our friends and opportunities.”
She continued, “Taylor has been in this way for a while, where she’s been ruining her opportunities for Dakota, for these men, because she’s not healed. I think it kind of showed that side of us just wanting to be good friends. Like, have this opportunity, get your healing, be happy. And for her, it’s like she’s still stuck in this toxic cycle with Dakota.”
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us Weekly that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” concerning Taylor and Dakota after an alleged dispute last month. (Taylor and Dakota are parents to son Ever, 23 months. Taylor also shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul.)
The incident allegedly led to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives halting production on season 5. The spokesperson said allegations were “made in both directions.”
Taylor broke her silence on the scandal in an exclusive interview with Us on Tuesday, March 17, claiming that there’s “more to the context to everything.”
“It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position,” she said at a New York City press dinner. “And the mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well. So the headlines that are out right now are very hard to see because that’s not the truth of it. I have always treated my children with respect and I’ve never touched them. So it’s been really hard.”
In Taylor’s perspective, the ongoing allegations came at an “unfortunate time” while she gears up for The Bachelorette season 22 premiere on Sunday, March 22.
“It’s another premiere that’s been taken away from me,” she said. “I’ve never enjoyed a premiere for any one of my shows. So it’s just been very sad.”
Dakota, meanwhile, addressed the situation one day later. His rep denied to Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday, March 18, that he is responsible for the alleged domestic violence dispute being made public.
“His number one priority here is protecting [their son], Ever,” the rep said. “He 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. It’s been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to coparent well.”
The statement continued, “He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away. He’s never done any kind of sit-down interview about his side. He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can’t do that.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
