Reality TV

The world is still trying to wrap their head around the shocking video of Taylor Frankie Paul appearing to assault her ex Dakota Mortensen ... and now Dakota is giving his take on Taylor and the subsequent fallout.

Dakota tells TMZ ...  "As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same."

As we reported ... In 2023, Taylor pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault -- a charge which stemmed from the incident captured in our video. She was later placed on 3 years' probation, which ends in August.

ABC and Warner Bros. Discovery are in meltdown, as a tidal wave of ripple effects from the cancellation of "The Bachelorette" is already being realized.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... the show costs around $2 million an episode to produce, and there's already finger-pointing and, we're told, shouting over who's to blame and who should shoulder the costs.

We're told only one of the episodes -- the one that was supposed to air Sunday night -- is in the can. Three more are in the process of being edited, and the remainder pretty much haven't been touched.

Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out after ABC pulled the plug on her season of "The Bachelorette" ... she promises she'll tell her side of the story amid the ongoing and escalating drama -- and appears to take a dig at her ex.

A spokesperson for Taylor tells TMZ ... "Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security."

They continued ... "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."

Taylor Frankie Paul's exes look like they had the same idea ... because they bumped into each other at a Utah courthouse ... and we've got the photos.

Check out these pics showing Taylor's ex-husband, Tate Paul, and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen ... they're chatting in the lobby of a courthouse in Northern Utah.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Tate and Dakota showed up to court Tuesday to obtain protective orders against Taylor, days before ABC pulled the plug on Taylor's season of "The Bachelorette."

Taylor Frankie Paul is now dealing with her ex, Dakota Mortensen, asking the court for a restraining order against her ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Dakota filed for a protective order in Utah on Tuesday. In his filing, Dakota details the incidents that he claims went down on February 23 and February 24 of 2026.

Dakota said he was at Taylor's home with Taylor and their son, Ever. He claimed the two had an argument that escalated. He then said she choked him, and he had to physically remove her hands from his neck while she shoved him into a window and struck him.

Longtime Bachelor Nation authority Reality Steve is weighing in on 'Bachelorette' Taylor Frankie Paul's ongoing drama, giving a blunt take ... stay off TV!

We had Reality Steve on "TMZ Live" Thursday as developments were breaking ... and in his opinion, "She needs to not be in front of cameras for a while ... She needs help. I don't think she needs more cameras in her face."

Well, that's happening, Steve! "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" has already halted filming on Season 5 amid fallout from Taylor's legal issues with baby daddy Dakota Mortensen. And this season's 'Bachelorette' has now officially been canceled.

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Ketamine and "The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives" don't mix ... at least according to star Demi Engemann, who said ketamine treatment put her in a headspace particularly unsuitable for the reality show.

In an interview on the "Disgraceful with Grace O'Malley" podcast, Demi was very positive about her experience with ketamine ... but she says it left her too exposed to the toxicity of the show.

She said, "What people don't realize is that when you're going through ketamine treatments, it makes your brain extremely raw. A lot is coming up from your past -- a lot of trauma is coming up."

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Taylor Frankie Paul backed out of a scheduled appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," opting to come back another day ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... in light of everything that's happened Taylor's appearance is being rescheduled.

Additional sources familiar with the situation say Taylor had done upwards of 10 interviews earlier that day and was exhausted, so it was mutually decided that they would reschedule the appearance for a future date.

Jordan Wright -- who starred in the British reality TV show "The Only Way Is Essex" -- was found dead in Thailand on March 14.

According to Daily Mail, Wright's body was recovered from a drainage canal where he was found face-down in the stagnant water of a drainage canal.

The publication reports Wright was wearing black pants and a gray T-shirt, but was barefoot. And he'd already made plans to leave soon.

Joseph Duggar -- who was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sexually abusing an underage girl -- once spoke out against his famous older brother Josh Duggar over accusations of child molestation more than a decade ago.

Back in 2015 ... Joseph weighed in on Josh's misconduct after Josh was accused of inappropriately touching five girls, including his own sisters, Jill and Jessa. Both brothers, of course, starred on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting.”

Joseph commented on the scandal in a clip for TLC's spinoff "Jill & Jessa: Counting On" ... saying, "Whenever somebody you respect the most is willing to get up and proclaim what we believe as Christians, about being true to your wife, you'd never think that that's the person who's involved in it."

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Mikayla Matthews has confirmed the show's pause came as a result of Taylor Frankie Paul's ongoing drama with her ex, Dakota Mortensen.

In an AMA on her IG Stories, Mikayla revealed the whole cast was in agreement with the hiatus.

When asked, "Is filming actually on pause?" Mikayla responded, "It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening." Of course, she's referring to a bombshell ...

"19 Kids and Counting" star Joseph Duggar -- the brother of Josh Duggar -- is looking serious in his newly released mug shot for his arrest for alleged child sex abuse.

TMZ obtained his booking photo from his arrest in Arkansas Wednesday -- he's got no expression on his face -- a stark contrast to his brother's fully smiling 2021 mugshot taken after he was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography.

But now Josh is no longer the only Duggar offspring to be booked for child-related crimes ... we told you all about it -- a 14-year-old made authorities aware of "several incidents" with Duggar that she said occurred during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, FL in 2020 when she was 9 years old, according to the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say the victim accused Duggar of repeatedly asking her to sit on his lap and sit next to him on a couch. At one point on the couch, he placed a blanket over them and allegedly "manipulated the victim's underwear and grazed her genitals" and rubbed his hand on her thighs.

The girl's father confronted Duggar about these allegations on Tuesday, and according to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, he admitted his actions and was subsequently arrested.

He is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

Part 2 of the "Members Only: Palm Beach" reunion wasted no time getting going! The ladies immediately took the gloves off to get down and dirty ... and we have clips.

Watch the video ... Gale Brophy -- tired of being painted a villain -- confronts Hilary Musser, Taja Abitbol, Maria Cozamanis, Ro-Mina Ustayev and Rosalyn Yellin and the sparks start flying, as host Rachel Uchitel tries to keep it on the rails.

Check out the clip to see who Gale says is acting like a wh**e.

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ star Taylor Frankie Paul told a counselor she didn't recall much after drinking vodka during her alleged 2023 attack on her ex, Dakota Mortensen, and that counselor determined she was a "problem drinker" ... at least temporarily.

TMZ obtained a 2023 substance abuse and mental health assessment filed as part of Taylor’s criminal case. The counselor who interviewed the reality TV star said Taylor showed up on time and was “smiling and friendly.” The report said Taylor was willing to share information “about the event that brought her in for the assessment.”

Taylor denied having any past or present drug use or prescription drug abuse. The counselor noted, however, that Taylor’s score on an alcohol screening test indicated she was an “intermediate problem drinker.”