In a tense courtroom drama unfolding in Utah, a judge has issued mutual protective orders against reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen, describing their relationship as 'very toxic' amid allegations of domestic violence from both sides. The orders, granted on Thursday in Salt Lake City's Third District Court, require the pair to stay at least 30 meters (100 feet) away from each other for the next three years, as a court commissioner continues to evaluate custody arrangements for their two-year-old son, Ever.
Commissioner Russell Minas presided over the livestreamed hearing, where Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, each sought to convert temporary protective orders into long-term ones. Minas acknowledged evidence of violence in both directions, stating, 'There’s been violence that occurred both ways between these parties.' He emphasized the need for the former couple to prioritize co-parenting, urging them, 'I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict. You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict.'
The commissioner's comments highlighted the volatile nature of Paul and Mortensen's on-and-off relationship, which has been a central plotline on Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Minas noted a 'continuing attraction' between them, whether physical or tied to their shared pursuit of celebrity status, but warned, 'The problem is that the two of them can’t be together in the same place at the same time before it starts to turn violent.' Violations of the orders could lead to criminal charges, underscoring the seriousness of the court's intervention.
Paul's attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, described the hearing as a 'significant step forward' in a statement to Global News. He praised Paul's candor in court, saying, 'Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise.' Swinyard added that Paul feels 'solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors' and is committed to cooperating in the custody case.
Mortensen's lawyer, Brent Salazar-Hall, denied allegations that his client leaked a damaging video of a 2023 altercation between the pair, which surfaced on TMZ the same day as the hearing. The footage, showing Paul kicking, punching Mortensen, and throwing chairs while her daughter from a previous relationship cried nearby, prompted ABC to shelve a planned season of The Bachelorette starring Paul. In the video, Mortensen can be heard saying, 'Your daughter is right here,' just before Paul hurls a chair in his direction.
Swinyard alleged in court that Mortensen orchestrated the leak to sabotage Paul's career, stating, 'Our point with the video is he’s not just trying to come after her for custody. He’s not just trying to seek a protective order. He wants to literally destroy her.' He referenced a private affidavit from Paul's co-star Jessi Draper, filed in Utah's Third District Court earlier this week. According to Swinyard, the statement details a March conversation in Draper's basement involving Mortensen, her then-husband Jordan Ngatikaura, and another man, where Mortensen reportedly vented frustrations about police inaction on his domestic violence reports against Paul.
Draper claims that Mortensen said he was going to 'take matters into his own hands to embarrass Taylor,' according to Swinyard. 'He specifically told Ms. Draper that he planned on leaking embarrassing videos of Taylor to the press, starting with the barstool video,' Swinyard said. 'He specifically named TMZ as the outlet and a few days later, that exact video was released by TMZ.'
Swinyard characterized the alleged plot as 'a step too far and shows his true nature,' suggesting it went beyond custody disputes to inflict broader harm on Paul and her family. Mortensen has not responded to requests for comment through his representative, and Salazar-Hall maintained his client's innocence in the leak during the hearing.
The protective orders stem from at least 11 documented fights between Paul and Mortensen. Paul was arrested in 2023 following one such incident, facing misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child after allegedly throwing a chair that struck her daughter. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023, with the other charges dismissed, according to ABC4 Utah reports.
In her April 7 filing for a temporary restraining order against Mortensen—submitted less than an hour before that day's hearing—Paul included photos of bruises on her arms, legs, and face, along with text messages referencing her injuries. She accused Mortensen of physical violence, including slamming her head into a dashboard and punching her leg during an argument in a truck outside her home, aimed at not waking sleeping children. Mortensen, in his protective order request, claimed Paul threw a drink at him during the same dispute.
Custody of Ever remains a flashpoint. Mortensen currently holds temporary custody, a shift from Paul having majority custody prior to an April 7 hearing. On that date, Minas granted Paul supervised visitation of up to eight hours per week, divisible into multiple sessions, citing concerns about both parents. 'I have concerns going both ways, quite frankly,' Minas said then, referencing Mortensen's alleged 'pushing of buttons to get reaction.' A court-appointed lawyer for the child was present at Thursday's hearing to advise on the safest arrangement.
Minas plans to issue custody recommendations by May 11. Paul's team had raised doubts about Mortensen's credibility in earlier proceedings, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The supervised visits followed a March decision awarding temporary custody to Mortensen, after which Paul lost primary access to her son.
Adding to the legal complexities, neither party faces new charges from recent domestic violence investigations. The Draper City Prosecutor declined to file charges against Paul or Mortensen after reviewing police cases from Draper City and West Jordan Police Departments, stating there was 'insufficient corroborating evidence.' This decision came two days after the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office similarly declined charges against Paul, with attorney Breanne Miller noting in a memo that some incidents did not meet criminal thresholds, others lacked evidence or specificity, and several fell outside the three-year statute of limitations.
'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,' Miller wrote. The city of Draper's statement echoed this, saying, 'The Draper City Prosecutor reviewed the DA’s findings and, upon further review of the Draper Police case, has declined to file any charges against Taylor Frankie Paul or Dakota Mortensen related to an investigation of domestic assault claims.'
While the lack of prosecution does not directly impact the protective orders, it could bolster Paul's position in custody arguments, especially given her ongoing probation from the 2023 assault conviction. Any new charges would have violated those terms. Minas reiterated the lifelong co-parenting commitment during Thursday's hearing, telling the pair, 'You have to figure out how to function as co-parents. This has been dysfunctional. This is a lifelong proposition between the two of you. You’re linked together for the remainder of your lives.'
As Paul navigates her high-profile life—balancing The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and the aborted Bachelorette opportunity—the court's orders aim to create distance in a relationship marked by public scrutiny and private turmoil. Supporters have rallied around Paul, with Swinyard noting her gratitude for the 'outpouring of support.' For now, the focus shifts to May's custody decision, where the well-being of young Ever will take center stage amid the ongoing legal battles.