Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
Disney/Fred HayesTaylor Frankie Paul and Dakota MortensenThe complex romance of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives 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 divorce from her famous husband, Tate Paul “Soft Swing” sex scandal.
before The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Debuting 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've never felt like there was a greater purpose in my life. I've also never been more proud of someone. Taylor is so bad that I'm falling more and more in love with her,” Dakota wrote via Instagram in March 2024. Beautiful boy. “
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He continued: “I am on cloud 9!!!! All I wanted was to have a family one day and be a father. So grateful and blessed for everything I have in my life.”
Taylor admitted that she was nervous to see her life Play on screen.
“I'm known largely through my 'Swinger Mom' headlines. I mean the arrest, unfortunately, was another big online event. And so I would say those things are very negative — obviously (the arrest) but the trans person “It wasn't a good thing either. I want to be known for the rest of my life.” Us Weekly One month after the Hulu series premiered. “So, for the show, I really wanted them to see more of me and my personality and a deeper level. I feel like I look completely different online than I actually do in conversation. So I felt like this was my opportunity to tell my story and take a deeper look into who I am.”
The reality star went on to say She hoped viewers would see it More of Dakota's “good soft side.”
“I feel like that wasn't shown on the show. He showed a fair defense,” she noted in September 2024. “So he's saying, 'I look like such an idiot to you while you're pregnant — when that's not the case with how I treated you all the time.'” “Yes, I have defended myself in some cases, but this is not the case for you.”
Hulu has renewed the show for a second season as Taylor and Dakota I tried to find out Their future together. Since then, the pair have provided glimpses of spending time together – but have also shared posts hinting that 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 live alone for the first time ever with two young children.”
That same month, Taylor confirmed that she and Tate They were involved in soft swaying With some of their Mormon colleagues.
“I think we were all drinking and partying and the guys were like, 'You girls, you should date,' and that was that. It wasn't a big deal to me,” Taylor recalled on “The Viall Files” podcast afterward. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives He was released. “(He was) having sex in the same bed, having sex in the same bed next to each other, girls kissing, husbands touching each other's wife. It started to escalate.”
July 2022
Taylor introduced Dakota when she posted a TikTok of them. “I won't share this,” she joked in the caption.
November 2022
The couple announced that they were expecting their first child together. Taylor subsequently suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
February 2023
After a heated battle with Dakota, Taylor He was arrested for domestic violence. 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 after the incident. Taylor pleaded guilty six months later to a charge of aggravated assault, while the other four charges were dropped with prejudice. She reached a plea deal the following month.
Dakota L said Daily Mail In an interview, Taylor said she would never “intentionally” hurt anyone, adding: “She's a good mother, and she's going through a lot in her life right now. Taylor's been struggling, it's been a tough year for her. She feels guilty (over) the cheating scandal that cost her her marriage.”
September 2023
Taylor revealed that she and Dakota were expecting baby Rainbow.
March 2024
After filming The Secret Lives of Mormon WivesTaylor has her and a son, Dakota.
“Dakota, he's been a good partner in this process and very supportive,” she said in a confessional about her birth, which was filmed after production initially wrapped. “I'm on cloud nine, and this is the first time I feel confident in us, in the future. I just – I hope I can trust him.”
September 2024
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives It premiered with eight episodes that followed influential Mormon mothers who were caught up in a swinging sex scandal. In addition to Taylor, the series was introduced we to Whitney Levitt, Jane Affleck, Demi Engeman, Michaela Matthews, Maisie Neely, Jessie Ngatekura and Layla Taylor.
The tense relationship between Taylor and Dakota was the focus of the first season. Their issues included cheating allegations, controversy over Taylor attending a Chippendales show in Las Vegas, and more.
“This was not something he wanted to put on the show,” Taylor said exclusively. we About rumors that Dakota slept with someone named Jenna. “I guess at the end of the day, we'll see how it turns out because I don't know. I don't have a problem with it though.”
In the show, Dakota He denied communicating with Gina Or get out of Taylor once they make things official. (Season 1 ended with Macy calling Jenna, but the finale wrapped before the audience heard their conversation.)
“At the end of the day, I said to myself: Why is this an issue worth caring about?” I was fine when I called her because I was like, “What is there to hide?” Taylor added at the time. “If there's nothing to hide, there should be no doubt. But that's the main motivation for me, and he knows that.
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September 2024
Taylor admitted it we that it He wasn't in a hurry For engagement in Dakota.
“I just want to take my time this time, this is my second marriage. It's going to be very important to me, and I don't want to end up in another divorce situation,” 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 love for that to be the ultimate goal. But right now, I think building it at that level is where I'm at.
The Hulu personality also discussed how she and Dakota were preparing to watch their ups and downs The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
She continued: “I feel like I've been venting to my mother and I've been a little harsh — and he's very sensitive — so I feel like it could be a lot harder for him.” “And that could also be a catalyst to spark these conversations. In particular, I think I heard the cliffhanger (of the season), so that in itself raises some things. We're doing well today, we're going through the work, so I'm really hoping not too much comes out.”
October 2024
During an interview with L weCover story, Taylor revealed that she and Dakota They were at loggerheads off screen.
“It's really hard for me to watch (the ups and downs with me and Dakota) because it's all real emotions. None of it is fabricated or staged or nothing. It's all real,” she noted. “So it's really hard for me to watch that again. This is probably one of the most difficult moments.”
Taylor said she's unsure about the status of her relationship with Dakota.
“I would say we're working on things and I really have no idea where things will go with us from here. We're not fully together, but we're not completely over. I don't know where the future holds between him and me,” she admitted. “It's just a lot.” . So I adapt and try to adapt. But I don't want to watch the show.”
November 2024
Speculation about Taylor and DakotaThe relationship status continued when she shared a video of him doing chores at their house and giving her flowers.
“At least he's trying,” she captioned the post. Her colleague Laila mocked Dakota in the comments section, replying: “GIRL IM TIREDDDDDDD.”
December 2024
Taylor hinted that she was not in a relationship with Dakota When I shared a holiday card Without him. However, eagle-eyed fans noticed 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 We didn't celebrate Christmas As a family.
“Chaos to pure silence. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone,” Taylor wrote alongside a video of herself crying. “If you're out there, drive, scream, cry, and feel the pain, because I promise you that avoiding it will make it so much worse. “
Taylor explained in the caption, adding: “I was told you went through this once, you will go through it again. #parenting #loss #relationships.”
In the comments section, one follower noted that “Dakota's TikTok brought them” to Taylor's account. “Just happy he can spend the day with him,” she replied, referring to her and Dakota's son, Ever.
Meanwhile, Dakota uploaded a video of him getting ready for the holiday celebrations solo. “Wrapping gifts alone. “But I'm sober and I can be there for my son's first Christmas,” he captioned the video before adding in a separate post: “It's the only gift I'll ever need in my life. “I love being a father.”
