Dakota Mortensen will reportedly be removed from the upcoming season of Vanderpump Villa following a domestic violence investigation involving him and his ex-girlfriend, Taylor Frankie Paul. Mortensen, known for appearing on Hulu's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, filmed scenes as a guest star for the third season in autumn, but his storyline will be redacted, according to Variety. The Independent has contacted Disney and Mortensen for comment.
The decision comes after ABC cancelled Paul's forthcoming season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled release. The move followed the emergence of a video appearing to show Paul attacking Mortensen in a 2023 incident that led to an arrest. A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said: '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.'
Authorities are investigating multiple allegations of domestic assault involving the pair. Draper City Police Department confirmed that 'allegations have been made in both directions' and contact was made with involved parties on 24 and 25 February, but no charges have been filed. A week later, West Jordan Police Department in Utah began investigating a third allegation of domestic violence involving Paul and Mortensen.
Paul and Mortensen have had an on-again, off-again relationship. In the 2024 series premiere of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Paul was arrested for aggravated assault and placed on probation after a physical fight with Mortensen. After her Bachelorette season was pulled, Paul's representatives said she was grateful for ABC's support and would be 'prioritizing her family's safety and security,' adding that she had 'silently suffered extensive mental and physical abuse.'
A representative for Mortensen told Entertainment Weekly on 18 March that his priority is protecting their one-year-old son, Ever. 'He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor,' the rep said. Mortensen is set to appear in a YouTube reality competition series produced by Alex Cooper, streaming on 6 April.
