Reality star Taylor Frankie Paul exits Hulu's 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' amid legal dispute
Taylor Frankie Paul announced she is leaving the Hulu series after a court-ordered drug test failure became public, adding to ongoing custody battles and controversy surrounding the show.
Taylor Frankie Paul confirmed she is stepping away from Hulu’s reality series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" following the disclosure of a failed court-ordered drug test. In an Instagram post on Monday, Paul thanked the networks that had supported her but said she did not wish to continue under the current circumstances. She also criticized fellow cast members, alleging they had engaged in a "pile on" and called remarks about her children "disgusting."
According to court documents reported by media outlets, Paul was required to submit a drug test after a July ruling related to her custody disputes with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares a son, and ex-husband Tate Paul, with whom she shares a son and daughter. The test results were sealed by a protective order, but an ex-husband later sought to unseal them, leading to the public report.
Hulu and Paul’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment. The legal issues stem from a March incident in which police investigated domestic-violence allegations between Paul and Mortensen, prompting Disney to delay the premiere of "The Bachelorette" season 22, where Paul was featured. Both parties later obtained mutual restraining orders, though no criminal charges were filed.
The controversy has affected other cast members of "Mormon Wives." After the release of season five, several participants, including Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley, indicated uncertainty about remaining on the show, with Matthews citing moral objections to Paul’s return. Whitney Leavitt had previously announced her departure to focus on acting.
"I treated production and crew with respect always, in fact they are the ones who checked on me throughout this," Paul wrote, adding that she felt the situation had become a form of bullying.
Paul concluded her statement by expressing relief at leaving the series, noting that her departure would allow the remaining cast to continue without added stress.