Dakota Mortensen has spoken out following the news that his ex, Taylor Frankie Paul, won’t face additional domestic violence charges stemming from a recent incident between them.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars have been embroiled in controversy following a February altercation, which resulted in Mortensen filing a domestic violence complaint and Paul counter-claiming assault. That, combined with leaked footage from a 2023 incident that led to Paul’s arrest, resulted in the cancellation of her headlining season of The Bachelorette and his being edited out of the new season of Vanderpump Villa. Filming on season five of SLOMW has also been paused.
Last week, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office said that an investigation into domestic violence claims from Mortensen — the father of Paul’s two-year-old son — stemming from the February incident, as well as a 2024 altercation, determined there is not enough evidence to file criminal charges against Paul. Similarly, the DA’s office declined to file charges against Mortensen.
Mortensen, 33, who has largely remained silent on the matter, shared Sunday with his Instagram followers that he has “taken a step back and had time away from the chaos.”
“My focus now is where it should have been all along — on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward,” Mortensen continued.
“I regret not stepping away from a difficult cycle sooner,” he said, alluding to his relationship with Paul. He went on to “take accountability” for his role and offer an apology to those he has 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 continued.
Mortensen said he has “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.”
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He offered thanks for the support he has received and said he intends to share what he has learned from the situation “when appropriate” to help others going through something similar.
“For now, my priority is on showing up as the best father I can be for Ever,” Mortensen concluded.
In a statement announcing the decision regarding Paul, the DA’s office said that some of the “misdemeanor offenses” that were investigated occurred more than three years ago, which falls outside the legal time frame for review.
Any new charges against Paul would have violated her probation from a separate 2023 dispute with Mortensen, which is in place until August.
Paul and Mortensen have filed protective orders against one another that will be heard in a court hearing April 30. Eleven fights between the pair are under examination in the requests. The April 30 hearing will also reexamine the former couple’s custody arrangement.
At an April 7 hearing, which Mortensen and Paul both attended virtually with their cameras turned off, a judge ordered that Paul could only have supervised visits with her son after Mortensen’s protective order against her was temporarily granted.
The former couple’s fiery relationship has been heavily featured on SLOMW since its 2024 debut. The series premiere showed police body camera footage of her 2023 arrest.
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men’s advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.