Taylor Frankie Paul Advocates for the Return of ‘Mormon Wives’ Filming
Taylor Frankie Paul is now in a “much better place” following the resolution of her recent domestic violence incident with ex Dakota Mortensen — and she’s eager to return to work.
“She’s optimistic that Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will pick up again soon and that filming will resume,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, adding, “Nothing has been confirmed yet.”
While Hulu hasn’t disclosed plans regarding the continuation of SLOMW season 5 amid Taylor’s and Dakota’s domestic issues, Taylor is focused on self-improvement as she prepares for a possible return to reality TV.
“For now, she’s trying to reconcile with the other girls so everyone can move forward in a peaceful manner,” the insider mentions, referring to Taylor’s relationships with most of her cast members. “It’s still a work in progress.” (Filming was halted in March after an altercation between the exes that occurred in late February.)
Although Taylor is in the process of rebuilding trust with some of her co-stars, the insider notes that she has been “leaning heavily” on castmate Jessi Draper.
“They’ve become even closer recently as they are both navigating tough times and can relate to each other’s situations,” the source elaborates, referencing Jessi’s ongoing divorce from estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura.
Jessi, 33, was the first SLOMW cast member to publicly support Taylor following the decision by police not to pursue charges related to the February 2026 incident earlier this week.
“So incredibly proud of my resilient, strong, and beautiful friend ❤️ @taylorfrankiepaul I love you more than words,” Jessi expressed on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, April 15.
In March, it was reported that SLOMW had paused production on the upcoming season, with a source telling Us that the cast was “terrified to film” with Taylor due to the turmoil in her relationship with Dakota.
As authorities looked into the 2026 incident, footage from Taylor and Dakota’s 2023 domestic dispute surfaced. The video showed Taylor throwing chairs at Dakota, 33, while her daughter, Indy, cried in the background. (Taylor shares Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, and has son Ever, 2, with Dakota.)
Taylor later pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault in exchange for the dismissal of other charges against her. As part of her plea agreement, her aggravated assault charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor in August 2026.
Following the release of the footage, ABC canceled her season of The Bachelorette just days before its premiere scheduled for March 22.
Dakota subsequently sought a temporary restraining order against Taylor and requested temporary custody of their son, Ever, both of which were granted.
Taylor celebrated a significant development on Tuesday, April 14, when the Salt Lake City District Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges against her for the February altercation with Dakota.
“Taylor feels optimistic about bouncing back from this, especially with the absence of charges against her,” the insider reveals to Us. “She understands her legal challenges aren’t over, but she views this as a small victory.”
Taylor and Dakota are still working through their custody arrangements, with Taylor having been granted her own temporary restraining order against Dakota on April 8, ahead of their court session later this month.
“She’s in a good mental place and is focusing on healing and continuing therapy,” the insider tells Us.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
