Cast members from Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” told ABC executives at a meeting earlier this month they had concerns about continuing the show if “MomTok” founder Taylor Frankie Paul remained involved, according to audio obtained by NBC News.
The roughly 30-minute Zoom meeting came on March 7, following an incident involving Paul and her on-again-off-again partner, Dakota Mortensen. A spokesperson for the Draper Police Department in Utah said earlier this week that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul and Mortensen from February.
During the call, stars from “Mormon Wives” voiced concerns over the future of their careers, the show’s brand and the allegations surrounding Paul and Mortensen. They also brought up alleged abuse involving Paul, who has three children, one who she shares with Mortensen.
In 2023, Paul was charged with assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to Salt Lake County sheriff’s records. The arrest stemmed from allegations of a separate domestic violence dispute with Mortensen in 2023, which was part of the storyline in season 1 of “Mormon Wives.” Court records indicate that Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge in August 2025, and the other four charges were dismissed with prejudice.
One cast member said they did not feel comfortable filming as long as Paul is being investigated.
“It’s a dangerous situation, it’s a sad situation, and we don’t know how to navigate it, because Taylor is our friend,” the cast member said to ABC brass at the virtual meeting.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, “the purpose of the March 7 zoom was to tell ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast that we care about their safety, and they should not feel pressured to do press or film the show.”
“The production company engaged a seasoned law firm to conduct an investigation of the competing and conflicting allegations that Taylor and Dakota had toward one another,” the source added, “and it would have been inappropriate to engage in a dialogue regarding an ongoing investigation.”
There were three Disney executives at the meeting in March, including Rob Mills, the executive vice president of unscripted and alternative entertainment at Walt Disney Television, the person who shared the recording said.
Cast members gave accounts of Paul’s alleged behavior at the meeting, according to the audio. Mills said on the call, “I don’t know a lot, nor do I want to know too much.”
“This is not me putting my head in the sand, but it’s not me — you know, I don’t want to inquire, because I don’t know what that does,” Mills later said.
Several cast members repeatedly referenced “distressing” and “upsetting” video recordings of Paul’s alleged conduct, but did not detail the contents of them or play them on the call.
A cast member called it “concerning” that no one at Disney or Hulu seemed to want to know what is in the videos.
Hulu executives visited Utah to see “Mormon Wives” film during season five, and while there they “witnessed” discussions of domestic violence, NBC News previously reported.
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ABC cancels ‘Bachelorette’ over video of Taylor Frankie Paul
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On Thursday, TMZ published a video that appears to be recorded by Mortensen and shows Paul pushing and kicking Mortensen as he repeatedly asks her to stop, saying, “let me go.”
The recording, which does not capture what led up to the interaction, reportedly shows an incident for which Paul was arrested in 2023, according to TMZ.
Paul is also seen throwing three barstools at Mortensen. Shortly after the stool is thrown, her daughter, who was nearby on the sofa during the fight, can be heard crying.
“This is called physical abuse,” Mortensen said in the video. When Paul begins hurling the stools at Mortensen, he can be heard saying, “Your daughter is right here.”
The video is mentioned in the 2023 indictment against Paul, which notes that Mortensen had “redness and swelling around his eyes, swelling on his elbow, scratches on his fingers, and a laceration on his neck” from the incident. The indictment also notes that in the video, Paul’s daughter is struck in the head while she was lying on the couch.
NBC News has not independently verified the TMZ video and has not viewed the original full video.
A spokesperson for Paul told NBC News on Thursday, after TMZ released the video, that the recording is the “latest installment of [Mortensen’s] never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”
At the meeting, one cast member asked Mills if he’s “aware she’s hurt a child?” He replied, “I don’t think for us getting into it is right.”
At the meeting, Mills stressed that the company is “never going to hide anything that is wrong for the sake of business.”
He encouraged cast members to speak out about their concerns on the show, but declined to promise that what they said wouldn’t be cut in edits.
The cast also expressed concern that Paul got paid more than them, which Mills denied.
Ultimately, the cast agreed to pause filming for “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” until legal action plays out, according to the audio recording.
Paul was set to take the spotlight as lead of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” this season, but the network pulled the plug on Thursday.
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” Disney said in its statement regarding the decision.
There are no current public allegations against Mortensen.
Following news of the cancellation, a spokesperson for Paul said she’s “gaining strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the spokesperson said. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Mills did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
Representatives for Disney declined to provide additional statements on the matter.
Several authorities have been reviewing the allegations.
The West Jordan Police Department in Utah confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday that the department received a domestic violence allegation via phone call involving Paul, but declined to give details about the allegation or any potential charges. They also did not know the exact date or time of the reported incident.
A police department spokesperson said detectives are working on establishing the facts of the case.
The Draper Police Department in Utah told People earlier this week that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul and Mortensen and that “allegations have been made in both directions.” The police spokesperson said that “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24th and 25th.”
Reached by NBC News on Monday, the police department declined to confirm the reports of a domestic dispute, saying its practice is “not to release details related to active investigations.”
On Thursday, Mortensen, through his attorney, filed for a protective order against Paul. The filing was sent back for a correction and an amended petition, Salt Lake County District Court records show.
During the meeting, Mills suggested “staying close” with the cast as the investigation unfolds to continue the conversation about the future of “Mormon Wives.”
“I want this to continue, and I want everyone to continue really being successful, both with this show and and beyond it,” Mills told those on the call, “But I think really, just navigating through this thing and taking care of each other is the most important thing right now.”