Dakota Mortensen Speaks Out After Taylor Frankie Paul Is Told She Won’t Face New Domestic Violence Charges
"My focus now is where it should have been all along — on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him," Mortensen wrote of the pair's son Ever, 2
NEED TO KNOW
- Dakota Mortensen has spoken out days after prosecutors announced they would not be pursuing charges against his ex Taylor Frankie Paul following several domestic violence allegations
- Mortensen said that his focus is now on “creating a stable, healthy environment” for the former couple’s son Ever
- “I regret not stepping away from a difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt,” Mortensen shared on Instagram
Dakota Mortensen is speaking out after prosecutors announced they would not be pursuing charges against Taylor Frankie Paul following several domestic violence allegations.
On Sunday, April 19, Mortensen, 33, who has been quiet on social media since last month, shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, explaining that his focus was now on being “the best father” to his and Paul’s son, Ever, 2.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star wrote, “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, he
Mortensen continued, “I regret not stepping away from a 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,” he said.
Mortensen explained that he’s “chosen to step away from the spotlight to focus on my family, my growth, and our healing, and that’s where my energy will remain.”
“I’m closing an unhealthy chapter and moving forward with hope for better days ahead,” he told his followers. “I’m grateful for all of the encouragement and support I’ve received, and I’m committed to showing up in a way that reflects that. My intention, over time and when appropriate, is to use what I’ve learned in a way that supports others navigating similar situations.”
“For now, my priority is on showing up as the best father I can be for Ever,” Mortensen concluded, adding a link to a number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Mortensen’s comments come after Paul was arrested in 2023 for an alleged domestic violence incident in which she was accused of throwing metal chairs at her ex while her then-5-year-old daughter, Indy, was in the room.
Though the arrest took place in 2023, the incident made headlines again in March after a video of the altercation — showing Paul yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying — was published by TMZ.
On March 16, the Draper City Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there was an open “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen. A spokesperson said at the time that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24 and 25.”
On March 25, the West Jordan Police Department then told PEOPLE that there was a separate “active domestic violence case” involving Paul and Mortensen. A spokesperson said that Mortensen contacted police at the end of February and had spoken to police in March as part of the investigation. The spokesperson also said that Mortensen had submitted a video, which police believed was dated to “early-to-mid 2024,” but declined to share further details amid the ongoing investigation.
Before that, on March 19, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul, while she filed for a protective order of her own against him on April 7, alleging that he had a “pattern of abusive conduct and coercive control” in their relationship and detailing several incidents during which he allegedly acted violently toward her.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office then announced on April 14 that it would not be pursuing charges against Paul. According to a release, the cases were reviewed by “multiple attorneys” because of the “high profile of the defendant.”
The district attorney’s office shared that several of the alleged incidents investigated by police took place more than two years ago — meaning they fall outside of the statute of limitations — and other alleged incidents “do not rise to the level of criminal offenses” or lack “sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges.”
Mortensen had previously been granted custody of the former couple’s son, Ever, during a hearing on April 7. Paul was granted up to eight hours per week of visitation, supervised by a paid supervisor or someone vetted by the guardian ad litem, PEOPLE previously reported. The arrangement is in effect until the pair’s next hearing on April 30, when the judge will review their competing protective orders.
Hours before Mortensen’s post on Sunday, Paul — whose already-filmed season of The Bachelorette was called off days before its scheduled premiere last month — discussed “the ugly parts of what healing actually looks like” in a candid Instagram post of her own.
She wrote in part, “If you know me you know I’ll admit my parts, flaws, and faults. I’m well aware thats apart of it. We’ll get there. This public atrocity that I not only lived through once but twice now, on even a bigger scale was ultimately the cost to my freedom.”
“I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy or even the ones who publicized it. I cried on my knees in pain while also saying THANK YOU 🙏🏼 we have a road ahead but regardless I’m forever freed from a certain living hell I couldn’t find my way out of,” the reality star’s post included.
