Freshly leaked footage from a 2023 domestic incident has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, directly resulting in the abrupt cancellation of Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette.” The video, exclusively obtained by TMZ and published on March 19, 2026, depicts the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star in a heated physical confrontation with then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen inside their Utah home. Paul is shown pushing, kicking, and applying a headlock to Mortensen while he records the encounter on his phone, repeatedly urging her to stop and labeling her actions as “physical abuse.”

The escalation reaches a terrifying peak when Paul seizes three heavy metal barstools from the kitchen island and throws them forcefully in Mortensen’s direction. Her five-year-old daughter, Indy (now eight), sits nearby on a couch throughout the ordeal. As the chairs fly, the child’s cries fill the audio track. Mortensen yells that his daughter “just got hit in the head by a metal chair,” a statement corroborated by police reports from the time and the subsequent felony aggravated assault charge filed against Paul. The clip cuts off suddenly when Mortensen’s phone drops, but the distress lingers in the remaining sounds.

This exact incident prompted Paul’s 2023 arrest. Court records reveal she later accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to aggravated assault with the possibility of the charge dropping to a misdemeanor after successful completion of three years’ probation. Sources indicate her probation wrapped up around August 2025. The resurfaced video, which served as pivotal evidence back then, has now resurfaced amid fresh allegations, amplifying its impact.

Paul and Mortensen share a two-year-old son, Ever, in addition to Indy’s presence from Paul’s prior relationship. Their on-again, off-again dynamic has been fraught with reported conflicts. In late February 2026, Draper City police confirmed an active domestic assault investigation following an alleged altercation between the pair on February 24-25. Claims surfaced from both sides, though detailed public information remains scarce pending the inquiry. On the very day the 2023 footage leaked, March 19, 2026, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul, accusing her of recent physical abuse including choking and shoving incidents. He seeks primary custody of their son, citing ongoing safety risks.

The timing proved devastating for Paul’s professional trajectory. ABC announced the immediate cancellation of her “Bachelorette” season, originally slated to premiere March 22, 2026. A Disney spokesperson stated the decision stemmed directly from the video and surrounding domestic violence concerns. Production on season five of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” had already halted due to the newer investigation, leaving Paul’s reality TV career in serious jeopardy. Once a breakout figure in the MomTok Mormon influencer circle—known for candid discussions of swinging lifestyles and modern faith—the visual proof has triggered intense backlash.

Paul’s team responded swiftly, with a spokesperson calling the release “sad” and part of Mortensen’s “never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking” efforts to damage her, especially noting the timing coincided with their son’s birthday. They argued the clip lacks full context and was selectively edited. Paul previously told authorities that Mortensen initiated violence by throwing her to the ground before she began recording, though the available footage starts mid-conflict and omits any prelude.

Public outrage has centered heavily on the child’s exposure to—and alleged injury from—the violence. Social media erupted with clips, commentary, and debates over domestic abuse accountability, reality TV casting ethics, and network responsibility. Many expressed disappointment in Paul, whom fans had supported through her unfiltered persona, while others questioned why networks proceeded despite prior knowledge of the 2023 charges (which were referenced on “Mormon Wives” itself).

Mortensen has described the situation as deeply upsetting, prioritizing his children’s protection above all. He has refrained from extensive commentary on the old footage beyond its content but stressed continued concerns given the recent protective order.

This saga exposes deeper fractures in the reality television landscape, where personal turmoil frequently collides with manufactured drama. Paul’s rise, built on authenticity and boundary-pushing revelations, now faces irreversible damage from undeniable visual evidence. As ongoing investigations and potential court proceedings from the 2026 allegations unfold, attention turns toward justice, child welfare, and whether the industry will implement stricter vetting for controversial personalities. The leaked video serves as a sobering reminder that behind the glamour of stardom lie real human consequences, especially when children become unintended witnesses—or victims—in the chaos.