A representative for Taylor Frankie Paul has spoken out after a video of a physical altercation with Dakota Mortensen was released.
“It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child,” Paul’s spokesperson told TMZ in a Thursday, March 19, statement. “Releasing an old and selectively edited video on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”
The outlet obtained a cellphone video of Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, getting into a fight that ended with the Bachelorette throwing a chair at her now-ex. Mortensen even pointed out that Paul’s daughter was in the room during the incident. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever, 2, with Mortensen.)
“Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is,” Paul’s rep added. “Sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show and from their own experiences.”
Us Weekly has reached out for comment.
According to TMZ, the video was taken in 2023 shortly before Taylor was arrested following an altercation with Mortensen. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief. Taylor pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charges while the rest were dismissed.
After Taylor returned home, she and Mortensen reconciled and they welcomed son Ever in March 2024. The couple, however, called it quits for good in fall 2025 before Taylor went to lead the upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
Taylor returned home to Utah from filming The Bachelorette season 22 in December 2025, nearly two months before news broke that local police were investigating another domestic incident between the reality TV star and her on-and-off ex.
“There’s more to the context to everything, and it’s unfortunate,” Taylor exclusively told Us at a Bachelorette press event on Tuesday, March 17. “It’s been hard, and it sucks to be in this position. 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.”
Mortensen has also released a statement on the incident, noting his focus is on Ever’s well-being.
“His No. 1 priority here is protecting Ever,” a rep for Mortensen told Entertainment Weekly earlier this week. “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 Bachelorette is still expected to air weekly on ABC beginning Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET, while Hulu recently paused production on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
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.
