Taylor Frankie Paul is getting support from her The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costar Jessi Draper as her legal battle with ex Dakota Mortensen continues.
Us Weekly can confirm that Draper, 34, filed an affidavit on Wednesday, April 29, in the former couple’s case over their competing protective order requests. Draper’s declaration was submitted in support of Paul, along with an affidavit from Paul’s younger sister, Aspen May.
Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, are set to appear in Utah court on Thursday, April 30, following multiple accusations of domestic violence. The hearing will help determine a custody arrangement for their 2-year-old son, Ever.
News broke in March that production on Mormon Wives season 5 was paused due to an alleged incident between Paul and Mortensen that occurred one month prior. Paul and Mortensen subsequently filed temporary restraining orders against each other, with Mortensen earning temporary custody of their son. Taylor was granted supervised visits.
Authorities have since confirmed that Paul would not be charged for the February incident with Mortensen.
“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 earlier this month.
Paul 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 on April 20. “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.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast has had its fair share of overlap when it comes to hookups within the friend group. When the show premiered on Hulu in 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt and husband Conner Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews […]
Mortensen issued his own statement the same day.
“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.”
