Mormon Wives Cast Shares Reactions to ABC’s Cancellation of The Bachelorette
Cast members of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives are responding to the announcement that ABC has opted to cancel Taylor Frankie Paul‘s season of The Bachelorette.
On Thursday, March 19, the network confirmed that they will not be proceeding with Taylor’s season due to allegations linking her to a domestic violence incident involving ex Dakota Mortensen.
“Following the release of newly surfaced video footage today, we’ve decided not to move forward with the upcoming season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our priority is to support the family,” stated a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television in a message to Us Weekly.
Earlier the same day, TMZ aired a clip showing Taylor, 31, throwing chairs at Dakota, 33, during a 2023 incident. Taylor’s representative described her actions as “reprehensible.” Following the incident, Dakota filed for a protective order against Taylor and requested temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, both of which were granted.
Taylor and Dakota’s tumultuous relationship has been featured on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since 2024. The Hulu reality show also includes cast members Whitney Leavitt, Jen Affleck, Demi Engemann, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, and Miranda McWhorter.
In response to the recent incident involving Taylor and Dakota, Hulu has paused production on Mormon Wives season 5.
Continue reading to learn how Taylor’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-stars feel about her Bachelorette season being canceled:
Whitney Leavitt
In a March 25 interview with Interview magazine, Whitney Leavitt expressed she is “still processing” the events.
“I have a lot of emotions about it and I’m still processing everything that’s happening, but the safety of human beings, especially children, comes first. Always, period, the end,” Whitney stated. “I don’t want that to be tolerated. I don’t want that to be overlooked. It’s just so fresh. That’s all I have to say about that.”
Jessi Draper
In her March 25 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Jessi Draper became emotional discussing the footage of Taylor Frankie Paul’s physical confrontation with ex Dakota Mortensen.
“I don’t like to judge someone in their darkest moment. I don’t want to judge the person, I’ll judge the mistake,” Jessi shared. “Taylor has truly made significant changes, making this situation hard for me. She’s my real friend with a genuinely good heart, and I love her.”
The JZ Styles founder emphasized that the footage does not reflect Taylor’s character, stating she merely “got caught in a really bad cycle.”
“Taylor’s a wonderful person who has made mistakes, as has Dakota. I’m not condoning any of it, but I know Taylor personally. It’s easy to speculate about these individuals on a reality show,” Jessi continued. “When you see it, we appear as characters rather than real people, but this is our true lives. I’ve witnessed Taylor in her hardest times, and I’ve supported her. I hope this could be a wake-up call for them, leading to healthier futures. I believe people can redeem themselves, and my only wish is for the children’s safety and happiness.”
Layla Taylor
Layla Taylor spoke out regarding Taylor Frankie Paul’s situation in a statement on March 20.
“As a survivor, it’s impossible for me to remain silent,” Layla stated in an Instagram story. “I firmly oppose domestic violence in any form. My thoughts are with her children, wishing for their safety above all.”
Miranda McWhorter
Miranda McWhorter, who joined Mormon Wives in season 2, condemned domestic violence following the resurfaced video of Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
“I’ve honestly struggled to find the words to process this entire situation,” she remarked via Instagram Stories on March 20. “It’s all been quite heavy. Domestic violence and any form of abuse is something I take very seriously. As a human being and especially as a mother, I cannot support such behavior. My heart goes out to the children involved in this, and I hope they are safe and surrounded by love.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
