The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ shortened season 5 didn’t waste time addressing Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen‘s domestic dispute.
“In May 2026, the Secret Lives cast returned to finish filming interviews following a 2 month production pause … without Taylor,” read a message before the first of the season’s five episodes, which was released Thursday, September 10, on Hulu.
Clips were then shown of Jen Affleck, Jessi Draper, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor and Miranda Hope in their individual confessionals reflecting on the headlines surrounding Taylor, 31, and Dakota, 33.
The season then flashed back to January, with the majority of the story lines focusing on the weeks leading up to production being paused. The last five minutes of the season featured the members of MomTok — minus Taylor or Whitney Leavitt — addressing how their friend group was “in shambles.”
While the women remained hopeful about the future of Mormon Wives, it remained unclear whether Taylor would be involved. The season wrapped with a “To Be Continued” message.
Earlier in the season, Taylor discussed her rocky relationship with Dakota following her stint on The Bachelorette.
“I came home [in January]. Night one we were texting … and then I don’t know how it got to the point where he came over to my house and it was late,” Taylor said about how she hooked up with Dakota a few times after filming the dating show.
Taylor admitted it was complicated because she was still “engaged” to Doug Mason, who was a finalist on her Bachelorette season.
“That is where things get trickier, because I still have feelings,” she noted. “When you have an addiction, there’s not a lot that is more powerful than that drug.”
Taylor ultimately ended her engagement to Doug but was entangled in a romance with ex Ben Lambert throughout season 5. The last footage shown of Taylor was her arguing with Dakota over their relationship — in front of their friend group — shortly before production was paused. She was heard on a phone call with Mayci claiming that Dakota was trying to ruin her life.
News broke in March that production on season 5 was paused due to an alleged incident between Taylor and Dakota that occurred one month prior. Taylor and Dakota subsequently filed temporary restraining orders against each other, with Dakota earning temporary custody of their son. Taylor was granted supervised visits.
Authorities have since confirmed that Taylor would not be charged for the February incident with Dakota.
“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” District Attorney Sim Gill’s office said in a statement to Us in April.
Taylor previously defended her decision not to stay silent on social media as the legal developments unfolded.
“I’ll continue sharing on social media showing how ugly healing can truly be. Making and editing videos is my way of processing just like people who like to write into a journal,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “This is my way and I choose to share it. Saying this with love, most people would need to get off and [that is] so understandable. I’m not most.”
Dakota ultimately issued his own statement.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos. That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity. My focus now is where it should have been all along-on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward,” he wrote via social media.
The post continued, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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