The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul, bringing closure to a months-long investigation that derailed her reality television career and put production of multiple shows on hold.
District Attorney Sim Gill's office released a statement on Monday confirming the decision after reviewing reports and evidence submitted by both the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department. The announcement marks a significant development for the social media personality, whose career trajectory shifted dramatically following domestic violence allegations earlier this year.
The investigation stemmed from an alleged February confrontation with her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen at her Utah residence. The incident occurred just weeks before Paul was scheduled to premiere as the season 22 lead of ABC's The Bachelorette in March. Despite the show having already completed filming in December, ABC made the unprecedented decision to cancel the season entirely days before its scheduled debut.
Paul, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic as part of a group known as MomTok. Alongside Whitney Leavitt, Miranda McWhorter, Demi Engemann, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Layla Taylor, and Jen Affleck, she created viral dance-based content on TikTok that attracted millions of followers.
Her internet fame exploded in 2022 when she publicly disclosed details about a "soft-swinging" scandal that led to her divorce from husband Tate Paul, with whom she shares daughter Indy and son Ocean. The revelation sent shockwaves through her fanbase and became the foundation for Hulu's breakout series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in 2024 and quickly became one of the platform's most-watched shows.
The show's success led to rapid renewals for seasons 2, 3, 4, and 5, documenting Paul's life as a single mother and her tumultuous relationship with Mortensen. The couple welcomed son Ever True in March 2024 before breaking up, though they continued an on-and-off relationship that played out across multiple seasons of the reality series.
Paul's legal troubles are not without precedent. In February 2023, she was arrested following a heated argument with Mortensen and charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief. She pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charges while the remaining counts were dismissed. The couple reconciled shortly after her release from police custody, during which time she discovered she was pregnant with their son.
The cancellation of The Bachelorette represented a major setback for Paul, who had expressed enthusiasm about finding lasting love through the franchise. In September 2025, she stated her goal was to meet The One and get engaged on the show. Production complications arose when she and Mortensen reconciled during filming for Mormon Wives season 4, just days before The Bachelorette production began.
Following the February allegations, Hulu paused production on Mormon Wives season 5. Disney Entertainment Television issued a statement at the time indicating their decision not to move forward with The Bachelorette season, stating their focus was on supporting the family.
The decision by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office to decline charges removes a significant legal cloud that had hung over Paul's career for the past two months. However, the long-term impact on her television projects remains uncertain. Neither ABC nor Hulu has announced whether production will resume on their respective shows featuring the reality star.
Paul has maintained her innocence throughout the investigation. In a September 2025 podcast appearance, she stated that charges from the 2023 incident were dropped and denied intentionally harming her children. When TMZ obtained footage in March 2026 showing her throwing a chair during the 2023 altercation with Mortensen, her representative claimed the video had been selectively edited.
The case highlights the complex intersection of social media fame, reality television production, and personal conduct in an era where public figures face intense scrutiny. For Paul, the district attorney's decision represents a legal victory, though the professional and personal ramifications of the past several months will likely continue to unfold in the public eye.