A recently surfaced video from 2023 has reignited controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul, the star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and the former lead of ABC’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette.” The footage, obtained and published by TMZ on March 19, 2026, captures an intense physical altercation between Paul and her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, inside their home. In the recording, Paul is seen repeatedly pushing, kicking, and placing Mortensen in a headlock while he attempts to film the incident on his phone. Mortensen can be heard pleading for her to stop, repeatedly saying “let me go” and describing her actions as “physical abuse.”

The most alarming moments occur when Paul grabs three heavy metal barstools from the kitchen counter and hurls them toward Mortensen. Her young daughter, Indy—who was five years old at the time and now eight—is visible nearby on a sofa during the outburst. As the chairs are thrown, the child begins crying audibly. At one point, Mortensen shouts that his daughter “just got hit in the head by a metal chair,” a claim that aligns with police reports and the subsequent indictment against Paul. The video ends abruptly as Mortensen’s phone falls, cutting off the visual but leaving the audio of distress intact.

This incident directly led to Paul’s arrest in 2023 on charges of aggravated assault, a felony. According to court documents and reports from People magazine, Paul ultimately entered a guilty plea under a deal that allowed the charge to potentially be reduced to a misdemeanor after three years of probation, provided she complied with all conditions. The probation period reportedly concluded in August 2025. The leaked footage served as key evidence in that case, highlighting the severity of the domestic violence allegations.

Paul and Mortensen share a young son together, now two years old, in addition to Paul’s daughter from a previous relationship. Their relationship has been turbulent, marked by multiple reported incidents. Just weeks before the 2023 video’s public release, police in Draper City, Utah, confirmed an open domestic assault investigation involving both parties following an alleged altercation on February 24 and 25, 2026. Authorities noted that allegations were made in both directions, though specifics remain limited due to the ongoing probe. In response to the newer claims, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul on March 19, 2026—the same day the old video surfaced—alleging physical abuse in two separate recent incidents, including choking and shoving.

The timing of the video’s release proved catastrophic for Paul’s career. ABC swiftly canceled her season of “The Bachelorette,” which had been scheduled to premiere on March 22, 2026. A Disney Entertainment spokesperson confirmed the decision, citing the resurfaced footage and the broader context of domestic violence concerns. Production on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” season five was already on hold due to the recent investigation, further compounding the fallout. Paul had been positioned as a prominent figure in the reality TV space, particularly within the “MomTok” community of Mormon influencers, but the visual evidence has drawn widespread condemnation.

Public reaction has been swift and largely critical, with many pointing to the presence of a child during the violence as particularly egregious. Social media clips and discussions have amplified the footage, sparking debates about accountability in reality television, the handling of domestic violence allegations, and the responsibilities of networks when casting controversial figures. Some supporters have questioned the context leading up to the recorded portion, noting that Paul previously claimed Mortensen initiated physical contact by throwing her to the ground before she began recording. However, the publicly available video begins mid-confrontation and does not show preceding events.

Mortensen has since broken his silence, describing the situation as “deeply upsetting” and emphasizing his focus on protecting their children. He has not commented extensively on the 2023 incident beyond what appears in the footage but has highlighted ongoing safety concerns in light of the recent protective order filing.

This case underscores broader issues within the reality TV industry, where personal controversies often intersect with on-screen personas. For Paul, once celebrated for her candid portrayal of modern Mormon life and swinging lifestyle revelations, the leaked video represents a significant turning point. As legal proceedings from the newer allegations continue and the public processes the disturbing imagery, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences behind reality stardom. The fallout continues to unfold, with calls for greater scrutiny of cast backgrounds and stronger support systems for those affected by domestic violence.