The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

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 repeatedly attacked Dakota Mortensen during the 2023 incident in which she pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, and the video shows that one of her children was struck during the fight.

TMZ has obtained the video -- a copy of which was evidence in the case -- and it's hard to watch. Dakota struggles to record the altercation with his cellphone as Taylor puts him in a headlock. She backs off ... but then charges and tries to kick him.

The struggle turns violent as Taylor grabs a metal barstool and hurls it at Dakota. He screams at her -- "your daughter is sitting right there" -- but she persists, throwing 2 more stools at him. At that moment, you hear her child, who was curled up on the couch, begin crying.

The police report says the 5-year-old girl was hit and later had a "goose egg on her head."

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.

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.

"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 ...

A former 'Bachelorette' producer is calling BS on the idea that ABC was blindsided by Taylor Frankie Paul’s physical violence allegations involving her ex, Dakota Mortensen ... telling us there’s just no way that slipped through the cracks.

We spoke with Michael Carroll on "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... and he says back in his day, casting was unbelievably strict -- with deep background, medical, and psychological checks on every contestant ... adding that anyone with charges like that against her would’ve been an automatic no.

Catch the full clip, 'cause Michael doubles down, telling us current producers were fully aware of who the 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star was. In his view, this wasn’t a surprise -- it was a setup ... calling it a publicity grab.

'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.”

There was a glitch in the matrix as Taylor Frankie Paul appeared on "Live with Kelly and Mark" ... the new 'Bachelorette' was cut off while referencing the abuse allegations she's facing, but TMZ has learned it's a very bizarre coincidence.

When the show aired live Wednesday morning on the east coast, TFP sat down and Kelly asked, "How are you doing? There's a lot going on with you," and right after Taylor responded, "I've had better days, I will say" ... the audio and video clipped out and came back in the middle of Kelly asking about the Oscars.

Conspiracy theorists might think it was ABC censoring something Taylor said about the controversy, but it's not that deep.

Production on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" kept viewers in the dark about serious abuse claims involving Taylor Frankie Paul ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the series tell TMZ ... during filming of the Season 3 reunion, Dakota Mortensen accused Taylor of being abusive toward him ..., but we're told that entire exchange was cut and never made it to air.

However, a production source with direct knowledge tells us ... they BOTH hurled allegations of physical outbursts at each other. The volatile exchange was cut for air because the back-and-forth had nothing to do with the season they just shot.

Dakota Mortensen has one focus amid abuse and mental health allegations against his baby mama, Taylor Frankie Paul -- and it ain't her.

The 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star has broken his silence on the unflattering reports about his ex ... with a rep telling Entertainment Weekly he is solely focused on protecting his and Taylor's 2-year-old, Ever. The rep notes Dakota knew the allegations of domestic abuse may one day come out, and he simply wants to maintain a co-parenting relationship with Taylor.

The rep adds ... "He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away ... He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can't do that."

Taylor Frankie Paul is sidestepping why production on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” came to an abrupt halt, despite the pause coming amid the fallout from an alleged domestic violence incident involving her and Dakota Mortensen.

TFP made an appearance on 'GMA' Wednesday ... and made it clear it's been a "heavy time" lately -- especially during what should be a celebratory moment with "The Bachelorette" set to premiere Sunday.

During the interview, host Lara Spencer presses Taylor to confirm our report about production getting paused ... and Taylor dances around the question, saying she "doesn't call the shots with production," though she admits she's "gotten word" about the halt.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" cast is drawing a firm line with Taylor Frankie Paul -- while still firmly in her corner and pushing for her to get help ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the entire cast believes Taylor isn't in a good place mentally, and they want her to seek help before anything else moves forward with filming. We're told the cast isn't icing her out ... far from it.

Our sources say they're all on her side and rooting for her to work through her issues, but feel production and Hulu haven't done enough to push her in that direction. We're told the cast remains fed up with what they see as production repeatedly sweeping Taylor's alleged abuse issues under the rug.