Taylor Frankie Paul Would Have Filmed Bachelorette While Pregnant
Prior to the cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette, Taylor Frankie Paul stated that she would have continued filming even if she were pregnant with ex Dakota Mortensen‘s child.
In a profile published by Vulture on Friday, March 20—before ABC decided to cancel the season—the 31-year-old reality star was asked about Dakota’s claims that she was concerned about being pregnant when entering the Bachelor Mansion.
“I would have had my baby,” she remarked, adding that she wouldn’t have withdrawn from season 22. “That would have been meant for a reason.”
During season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Dakota, 33, and Taylor were intimate shortly before Taylor left to film The Bachelorette. Dakota later confided to Jessi Draper that Taylor allegedly mentioned she thought she might be pregnant.
Taylor, who has since confirmed that there was no pregnancy scare, was announced as the lead for season 22 of The Bachelorette in September 2025, before fans witnessed her tumultuous resolution with Dakota on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. (Taylor shares a son, Ever, aged 2, with Dakota, in addition to two children with ex-husband Tate Paul.)
Days before Taylor’s search for “The One” was set to air on ABC, production on season 5 of Mormon Wives was halted. The pause in March followed a domestic violence incident involving Taylor and Dakota last month. A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed that there is an ongoing “domestic assault investigation” regarding the couple.
TMZ later released previously unseen footage from the 2023 altercation between Taylor and Dakota, in which the Bachelorette lead was shown throwing chairs, one of which hit her and Tate’s daughter. The incident gained media attention in 2023 when Taylor 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 aggravated assault in August 2023, while the other four charges were dismissed. She later reached a plea deal. Following the resurfaced footage, ABC made the decision to cancel season 22 of The Bachelorette.
A spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television informed Us on Thursday, March 19, “In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have decided not to proceed with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”
Taylor also issued a statement addressing the controversy.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a representative for Taylor said on Thursday. “After enduring extensive mental and physical abuse, along with threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally finding the strength to confront her accuser and is taking steps to protect herself and her children from any further harm.”
The statement continued, “There are too many women who suffer in silence under the control of aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on. Taylor has stayed quiet out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all her options, seeking support, and preparing to share her story.”
