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Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
Disney/Fred HayesTaylor Frankie Paul and Dakota MortensenA complicated romance took center stage The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — and the status of their relationship remains unclear.
The couple started dating before the show premiered on Hulu. Dakota was Taylor’s first public boyfriend after her high-profile divorce from husband Tate Paul “soft” sex scandal.
Before The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives debuted in September 2024, Taylor and Dakota faced major ups and downs — including an arrest for domestic violence — before expanding their family with son Ever. (Taylor also shares Indy and Ocean with Tate.)
“All I can say is that I have never felt a greater sense of purpose in my life. I’ve never been so proud of anyone either. Taylor is an absolute bad ass that I’ve fallen more and more in love with,” Dakota wrote via Instagram in March 2024. “She’s been so incredible and I couldn’t be more grateful to call her the mother of our beautiful boy.”
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He continued: “I’m on crazy cloud 9 !!!! All I ever wanted was to have a family one day and be a dad. I am so grateful and blessed for everything I have in my life.”
Taylor admitted that she was nervous when she saw her life play on the screen.
“I’m pretty well known for my ‘Swinger Mom’ headlines.” I mean, the arrest, unfortunately, was another big one all over the internet. And so I would say those things are pretty negative — obviously (the arrest), but the swing thing wasn’t a good thing either, I want to be known for the rest of my life,” Taylor exclusively said. My Weekly a month after the Hulu series premiered. “So for the show, I really wanted them to see me and more of me and my personality and a deeper level. I feel like I’m so different online than I am in real life in conversation. So I felt this was my chance to tell my story and take a deeper look at who I am.”
The reality star continued she wished the audience could see more of the “good soft side” of Dakota.
“I feel for him, that wasn’t shown on the show. She just showed defensiveness,” she noted in September 2024. “So he said, ‘I look like a jerk to you when you’re pregnant — when that’s just not the case with how I’ve been treating you all along. Yes, I’ve defended myself in cases, but I’m not like this to you.'”
Hulu has renewed the show for a second season as Taylor and Dakota he tried to figure it out their common future. The pair have since offered glimpses of how they spend time together – but have also shared posts suggesting they are no longer an item.
Keep scrolling to relive Taylor and Dakota’s relationship:
May 2022
Taylor announced her divorce from Tate via TikTok, writing, “In my twenties I got divorced, started therapy, and lived alone for the first time with two young kids.”
That same month, Taylor confirmed she and Tate they were engaged in soft rocking with some of his Mormons.
“I think we were all drinking and partying and the guys were like, ‘You guys should behave,’ and that was it. It wasn’t a big deal to me,” Taylor recalled on “The Viall Files” podcast. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives he was released. “(It was) kissing in the same bed, intercourse in the same bed next to each other, kissing girls and husbands touching each other’s wives. It’s just starting to escalate.”
July 2022
Taylor introduced Dakota when she posted a TikTok of them. “I won’t share it,” she joked in the caption.
November 2022
The couple announced that they are expecting their first child together. Taylor subsequently suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
February 2023
After a fierce fight with Dakota, Taylor was arrested for domestic violence. After the incident, she was eventually charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief. Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault six months later, while the other four charges were dismissed with prejudice. She reached a plea deal the following month.
Dakota said Daily Mail in the interview that Taylor would never hurt anyone “on purpose” and added, “She’s a good mom, she’s going through a lot in her life right now. Taylor is struggling, it’s been a tough year for her. She’s full of guilt (over) her cheating scandal that cost her her marriage.”
September 2023
Taylor revealed that she and Dakota are expecting their rainbow baby.
March 2024
After filming The Secret Lives of Mormon WivesTaylor gave birth to a son for her and Dakota.
“Dakota, he’s been such a good partner in this process and very supportive,” she said in a confessional about her birth, which was filmed after production had originally wrapped. “I’m on cloud nine and this is the first time I’ve ever had so much faith in us, in the future.” I just – I hope I can trust him.”
September 2024
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered with eight episodes that followed the effects of Mormon moms caught up in a swinging sex scandal. In addition to Taylor, the series introduced itself Our on Whitney Leavitt, Jen Affleck, Demi Engemann, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura and Layla Taylor.
Taylor and Dakota’s rocky relationship was the focus of the first season. Their issues included cheating claims, an argument over Taylor’s attendance at the Chippendales show in Las Vegas, and more.
“It wasn’t something he wanted to bring to the show,” Taylor exclusively said Our about the rumors that Dakota slept with someone named Jenna. “I guess at the end of the day we’ll see how it goes because I don’t know. But I don’t have a problem with that.”
On the show, Dakota denied hooking up with Jenna or step on Taylor once they made things official. (The first season ended with Mayca calling Jenna, but the finale ended before viewers could hear their conversation.)
“At the end of the day, I was like, ‘Why is it a problem to call?’ I felt good when she called her because I was like, ‘What’s there to hide?'” Taylor added at the time. “If there’s nothing to hide, there shouldn’t be any questions he knows.”
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September 2024
Taylor admitted Our that she he was in no rush get engaged to Dakota.
“I want to take my time with this, this is my second marriage. It’s going to be very important to me and I don’t want to get into another situation where I’m divorced,” she explained. “So I really want everything to be really solid and have a foundation of trust. And so I feel like it takes time. I would like that to be the end goal. But right now I think that’s where I’m at.’
The Hulu personality also discussed how she and Dakota are getting ready to follow their ups and downs The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“I feel like I vented on my mom and was a little harsh — and he’s very sensitive — so I feel like it could be a lot harder for him,” she continued. “It could also be a trigger to spark those conversations.” I especially think I heard the (seasonal) cliffhanger, so that in itself raised some things. We’re doing well today, we’re going through work, so I’m really hoping it won’t be too much.”
October 2024
During an interview for Our” The cover story, Taylor revealed she and Dakota were at odds off screen.
“It’s really hard for me to watch (the ups and downs with me and Dakota) because it’s all real feelings. None of it is made up or acted or anything. It’s all real,” she noted. “So it’s really hard for me to watch in retrospect.” That’s probably one of the hardest moments.”
Taylor said she is unsure of the status of her relationship with Dakota.
“I’d say we’re working on things and I really have no idea where we’re going from here. We’re not quite together, but not quite done. I don’t know where the future is with him and me,” she admitted. “It’s just a lot. So I’m coping and trying to cope. But I don’t want to watch that show.”
November 2024
Speculation about Taylor and DakotaThe relationship status continued when she shared a video of him doing chores around their house and giving her flowers.
“At least he’s trying,” she captioned the post. Her co-star Layla poked fun at Dakota in the comments section, replying, “GIRL IM TIREDDDDDD.”
December 2024
Taylor has hinted that she is not in a relationship with Dakota when she shared a holiday postcard without him. However, eagle-eyed fans spotted another version posted by Taylor’s mother that featured Dakota.
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December 2024
The duo revealed in separate TikTok videos that they did they didn’t celebrate Christmas like a family.
“Chaos to pure silence.” I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone,” Taylor captioned the video of her crying. “If you’re there, drive, scream, cry, feel the pain, because I promise if I avoid it, it’s going to be a lot worse.
Taylor elaborated in the caption, adding: “I’ve been told you’ve made it once, you’ll make it again. #partnership #loss #relationships.”
In the comments section, a follower noted that “Dakota’s TikTok brought them” to Taylor’s account. “I’m glad he gets to spend his day with him,” she replied, referring to her and Dakota’s son, Ever.
Meanwhile, Dakota uploaded a video of himself preparing for the holiday celebrations. “Wrapping presents myself. But I’m sober and I can be there for my son’s first Christmas,” he captioned the video, adding in a separate post: “It’s the only present I’ll ever need in my life. I love being a father.”
