Watch:Taylor Frankie Paul Speaks Out in Fiery Message After Whitney Leavitt Unfollows Her
Taylor Frankie Paul isn’t hitting the like button anytime soon.
After the Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesunfollowed her costar Whitney Leavitt on Instagram, she had a fiery response when Leavitt returned the favor
“Good,” Paul commented on a July 14 post announcing Leavitt had unfollowed her back. “Since she is ‘leaving’ for the 100th time I’ll give my last words about her. I stuck up for her since the hospital video I bet she doesn’t even recall that. The show I gave her grace against a whole cast MULTIPLE times. She is very successful and I always supported that. Just for her smile and pile on at my lowest.”
The 32-year-old continued, “Let’s be honest she’s been waiting for my down fall[sic] since day one and she still ain’t gonna get it because she could have everything and still chose not to reach a hand. bye Whit cya mid season when you come back.”
Leavitt—who recently finished competing on season 34 of Dancing With the Starsand was on Chicagoon Broadway—announced in May she’d be stepping away fromSLOMWto pursue other opportunities
read
Taylor Frankie Paul Speaks Out After Rehab Stay, Shares She’s on Antidepressants
Meanwhile, Leavitt and Paul aren’t the only ones playing the unfollowing game. Mere hours after posting about Leavitt, the @themormonwivesreport Instagram account shared screenshots indicating SLOMWstars Miranda Hopeand Layla Taylorhad also unfollowed Paul
The Mormon Wives Report/Instagram
But as Hope noted in a comment, she wasn’t the one who started the back and forth.
“I don’t really know why i was ever unfollowed in the first place haha,” she wrote. “Kept following until i decided it didn’t make sense to keep investing in something one sided. i’m not one to unfollow to ‘prove a point.’”
As for Paul, her relationship with the SLOMWfranchise and its parties has been fraught since filming of season five was put on pause in mid-March amid the release of footage showing a domestic violence incident between her and her ex Dakota Mortensen. The video also caused the release of Paul’s season of The Bacheloretteto be put on indefinite pause.
Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
And though her long term fate on Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesremains up in the air, E! News learned on July 9 that Paul would return for season five in only a limited capacity, filming intros and pick-up shots for the show’s opening title sequence
Paul, for her part, has made it clear she’s prioritizing her mental health, having recently completed a stay in a rehab facility.
“I knew that I was in a spot to take a step back and be like, ‘OK, we need a reset,'” the reality star—who is mom to three kids—said in a series of videos posted to her Instagram Stories July 6. “Number one priority was just a reset for my mental health and to get away—decompress, whether it’s one day, whether it’s seven, whether it’s 30. I willingly did that. That was my choice.”
For more insight into Paul’s complicated journey in the spotlight in recent months, read on.
Disney/John Fleenor
Paul was charged with one count of felony aggravated assault, two counts of felony domestic violence in the presence of a child causing injury, one count of misdemeanor child abuse and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to court documents released by the District Attorney for Salt Lake County and obtained by E! News at the time.
A Herriman Police Department officer who responded to the incident said that when he arrived, Mortensen “reported he was in an argument with his girlfriend,” according to a written declaration in the court documents. The officer further stated that “during the argument, Mortensen attempted to leave the residence, however [Paul] began hitting him.”
Her plea was held in abeyance for three years, at which time the charge would be entered as a Class A misdemeanor as long as Paul abided by the terms of her plea agreement, per the documents.
According to her plea deal, Paul was to obtain both a substance abuse evaluation and a domestic violence evaluation and complete any recommended treatment over a three-year period—as well as not violate any major laws.
“He stood by me with that because he knew everything going on behind closed doors,” she said. “That was a horrible night and I’m full of regret. Dakota has been at rock bottom himself, so he could totally relate. He was like, ‘I want to help you out of this.'”
As for the confrontation itself, she later said the incident had been building up.
“I had an ectopic [pregnancy] a few months prior, and then I had a chemical pregnancy,” she shared on the Viall Files podcast in September 2024. “I don’t want to blame hormones, but I will put that into account. Like, I am pretty whack.”
Paul added that the events had left her feeling lost and angry, saying, “I was feeling so low I went and drank that night. And Dakota picks me up and he’s angry that I drank.”
“I remember throwing things, and I don’t know my daughters on the couch. We had babysitters there, so I think they’re upstairs sleeping,” she said, alleging that Mortensen tried to tell her that her then 5-year-old daughter was present, but “I’m like so gone I don’t care, and I throw another chair.”
“Dakota and I were living together and in bliss with our new baby, and I was even considering engagement,” she said on the premiere episode. “And then I learned that he was lying this entire time.”
During a season four episode of SLOMW, Mortensen admitted to cheating with their friend Shinia Powell, telling Taylor during a FaceTime call, “Was it dumb of me? Yes. Could I have picked someone else? Yes. Who it was matters, and that’s where I think I went wrong. I picked somebody that was obviously going to come with problems, and that was very s–tty of me to do.”
But for Paul, it was a welcome change, saying in a teaser for the season, “I do believe I was gifted this for another chapter in my life.”
“I’ve been criticized, I’ve been judged and I’ve been rejected,” Paul continued, “but anyone that takes the time to know me will see that I’m actually a genuine person and I mean well and a person that deserves another chance at love.”
He added that he and Paul had both done “a lot of things” to “hurt each other,” but believed that overall the two still loved each other.
The pair agreed their relationship was “toxic,” with Paul saying that being on The Bachelorette “will be one the best things for us, regardless of what happens. This would be the best break and breakoff of our cycle. You could do a lot of healing.”
But Mortensen made it clear he was still interested in a relationship, telling Paul, “I’m happy for you. I want you to be happy. That’s what I’m saying, if you find someone, like, great. But all I’m gonna say—save a rose for me, ‘kay?”
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed to People on March 16 that there was an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul and Mortensen—telling the outlet that “allegations have been made in both directions.” The spokesperson explained “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24th and 25th,” but declined to share more information due to the ongoing investigation.
As a source shared with E! News, “Taylor owns her mistakes, all she wants to do is protect her son, Ever, from stories in the press or anything negative about his father and wants him to think well of his father.”
In the video, Mortensen can be seen recording the fight on his phone as Paul yells at him and attempts to strike him, at one point putting him in a headlock.
“Look,” Mortensen can be heard saying, “this is called physical abuse.”
He could also be heard telling her that her daughter was present as Paul began throwing metal barstools at him. During the altercation, Paul accused Mortensen of pushing her to the floor before he started recording, while he alleged, “You did this,” and asked her to help her then-5-year-old. Later, Paul could be heard yelling, “Get away from my daughter.”
The responding police officer’s written declaration obtained by E! News in 2023 confirmed the child was hit by one of the stools.
After the video was published, a spokesperson for Paul told E! News in a statement that the video was part of “a destructive campaign to harm” her, saying it “conveniently omits context” and was meant to “distract” from Mortensen’s actions. As for the real estate agent, he denied her claims as “baseless.”
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” her rep told E! News. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives.”
Her rep confirmed that Paul was “currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
“I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship,” he said, “which I categorically deny.”
“I am focusing on our son and his safety,” Paul added, “and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
According to the outlet, the news release noted, “Due to the high profile of the defendant, the cases were reviewed by multiple attorneys.”
