Reality TV

The top brass at "The Bachelorette" didn't see it coming ... but according to one well-placed source, they're guilty of willful blindness.

A source connected to the show with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... the latest crop of producers on the ABC show wanted Taylor Frankie Paul from "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" in a bad, bad way. They felt she could bring in a wider audience because her reality show was such a hit, and that's why our source says they "cut corners" in the vetting process.

TMZ broke the story ... Taylor and her baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen, have both been ordered to undergo a psych evaluation after allegations of physical violence.

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star Jessi Ngatikaura is weighing in on the ongoing drama surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul ... shutting down one floating theory about tension on set.

As you know ... production for the reality show has been shut down after an alleged domestic violence incident involving Taylor and her baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen -- both have been ordered to undergo psychological evaluations.

The situation has social media buzzing ... with fans and commentators floating their own theories about what’s really going on behind the scenes.

"Love Island USA" star Huda Mustafa is catching some serious heat from her boyfriend's baby mom, who recently filed a restraining order against the reality star ... and that baby mama is now speaking out to share her side of the events leading up to the legal action.

Nicole Olivera -- the mother of Louis Russell's child -- tells TMZ the situation escalated back on February 21 around 1:30 AM … when she claims Huda showed up uninvited to her home.

According to Nicole, Huda allegedly took an Uber to Nicole's L.A. apartment, where she lives with her son, and trespassed by forcing her way into the building ... which Nicole says was captured on surveillance video. She insists she never gave Huda access, either verbally or physically.

Candiace Dillard Bassett’s got Wendy Osefo on her mind ... and she’s sending prayers as her 'Real Housewives of Potomac' costar stares down a serious legal mess with husband Eddie.

We caught Candiace in NYC Monday, and she kept it classy, saying she’s hoping for the best as Wendy and Eddie deal with the fallout.

Watch the clip -- Candace makes it clear she’s worried, especially for their kids, and just wants the family to come out okay on the other side.

Taylor Frankie Paul is sharing custody of her son with baby daddy Dakota Mortensen amid an investigation into claims of child and spousal abuse ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the situation tell TMZ ... the 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' stars have not seen or spoken to one another in three weeks, ever since a heated argument that allegedly turned physical and resulted in Dakota calling police.

Taylor and Dakota have a son, Ever, who turns 2 this week, and we're told they are sharing custody as the Utah Division of Child and Family Services conducts an investigation. It's unclear which parent -- or both -- are being investigated.

Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efrid is bringing her claws out for the sake of her family as she slams her late sister Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell's ex-husband for allegedly keeping their daughter away from the family.

Pumpkin hammered Michael in a post to social media Sunday night ... saying he hasn't allowed her or her famous family to see Kylee Cardwell for 2 years. Michael welcomed Kylee with Chickadee in 2015, and they split 2 years later.

Michael got full custody of Kylee when Chickadee passed from cancer in 2023, while Mama June Shannon was awarded custody of Chickadee's older daughter, Kaitlyn. Michael had also attempted to get custody and visitation of his stepdaughter.

Taylor Frankie Paul's baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen, has a much different view of what went down between them 3 weeks ago, and believes he's the real victim ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" production tell TMZ ... Dakota and Taylor were spending time together at his place when they started fighting about Dakota's romantic past -- namely his hookup with cast member Shinia Powell.

We're told it got physical as Taylor allegedly choked Dakota and ripped his necklace off, and grabbed his throat and face ... and this happened with their son, Ever, in the room.

Huda Mustafa is caught up in some serious drama with boyfriend Louis Russell’s ex getting a restraining order against her ... but judging by these steamy gym pics, they clearly aren't letting the situation kill the vibe.

Check it out -- just a day before TMZ broke the allegations, the "Love Island USA" star posted some spicy workout snaps Sunday ... including one where Louis grabbed a handful of her booty as the two posed for mirror selfies.

There were weights sitting right in front of them, waiting to be used ... but it looks like the couple took a quick break between reps for the steamy photo sesh.

"The Real Housewives of Pretoria" star Melany Viljoen was cuffed in her bathrobe after allegedly shoplifting from a Florida supermarket ... and it's all captured on new body cam footage.

ICYMI ... Melany and her husband Petrus "Peet" Viljoen were booked last Wednesday after Boca Raton police say the couple stole more than $5K worth of groceries from a local Publix.

In the body cam footage -- obtained by Page Six -- of their arrests, you can see Melany answer the door of their home and get handcuffed ... while wearing only a bathrobe.

Production on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" has been put on ice after allegations of child and spousal abuse, and we've learned it's gotten so crazy Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have been ordered to get psych evaluations.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Dakota has called the Utah Division of Child and Family Services more than a few times, alleging Taylor has been physically abusive to their son Ever, who turns 2 this week. Our sources say Taylor denies the allegation, and Dakota has become frustrated that no action has been taken.

Things came to a head late last month, when Taylor and Dakota were driving in his car and got in a heated argument. We're told a drink was spilled on the seat and on Dakota, and he became enraged. Sources connected to Taylor say he got physical with her. We're told Dakota called the police and said Taylor was the one who got physical.

Our Taylor sources say Dakota went MIA for nearly 3 weeks after the car incident, and that's why production stopped. He has an important part in the show, and producers wanted to wait until he resurfaced. Sources connected to the show tell us a different story ... that cast members refused to continue filming -- despite producers wanting to keep filming -- because of the child and spousal abuse allegations.

Taylor Frankie Paul's reality show in Utah is on ice amid allegations of child and spousal abuse ... but her turn as the next 'Bachelorette' is still full steam ahead.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star is embroiled in a messy war of words and allegations in Utah with her ex and baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen ... but a pause in production on that show appears to have no effect on her other show, "The Bachelorette."

Taylor stars in the 22nd season of the ABC reality dating competition .... and she's reportedly in New York City promoting the show ahead of a premiere this weekend in Los Angeles.

Big drama for Huda Mustafa ... her boyfriend Louis Russell's ex-girlfriend is seeking court-ordered protection from the "Love Island" star, alleging Huda threatened to kill herself and tried to break into her home.

Nicole Olivera beelined it to court Thursday and filed for a restraining order against Huda, who she claims threatened her and Louis' baby boy and broke into their Los Angeles building.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Nicole claims Huda swore on her daughter's life she was going to kill herself and then made a bunch of "terrifying" and "extremely mentally unstable" threats against herself, her daughter, and Nicole's son before showing up to Nicole's home and breaking into the building.

Jenelle Evans' mother, Barbara, seems like she's ready to fight tooth and nail to regain custody of her grandson, Jace ... despite a judge denying her request for emergency custody.

According to docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Barbara beelined it to court on Friday ... filing a motion seeking full custody of the 16-year-old, who is currently in a mental health treatment facility.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the motion was filed behind Jenelle's back ... and it was quickly denied.

Grace Lilly's latest arrest last week apparently didn't come out of nowhere ... it seems to have been triggered by new lab results tied to her previous run-in with cops, TMZ has learned.

According to an incident report, obtained by TMZ, cops say they tested the pills police found in the "Southern Hospitality" star's purse during her December arrest in Charleston, SC. Authorities say the lab results showed the 12 white pills contained clonazepam -- which is often sold under the brand name Klonopin -- a controlled substance commonly prescribed for anxiety and seizure disorders.

It's illegal to possess the medication without a valid prescription ... and the report says an officer drafted an affidavit and a judge signed a warrant, which appears to be what ultimately led to Grace's arrest on March 10.

Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, were duking it out in court months before their issues led "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" producers to shut production down temporarily ... TMZ has learned.

According to online court records obtained by TMZ, Dakota went to court over custody and support of their son Ever back in June 2025. Taylor filed a response and counterclaim a couple of weeks later. 

It looks like a proposed order on custody, support, and parenting time was filed in the case around September.

Production on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has hit an unexpected pause … and it's all due to a heated blowup between two of the main cast members, TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the series tell us production is currently shut down after drama with the show's star Taylor Frankie Paul and her baby daddy Dakota Mortensen erupted while filming for Season 5 ... causing cameras to go down for the time being.

It's unclear exactly what sparked the fight, but our sources say the situation became intense enough that filming couldn’t continue as planned.