Taylor Frankie Paul told listeners of the Call Her Daddy podcast that her relationship with Dakota Mortensen is "done for good," saying she made the final decision to end the romance as she prepares to film as the lead on Season 22 of The Bachelorette.
On Wednesday's episode with host Alex Cooper, the 31‑year‑old Hulu personality and star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives said the split has been "very confusing" and described letting go as "one of the hardest summers" she has experienced. Paul said she and Mortensen, 32, who began dating in 2022, co‑parent their 1‑year‑old son, Ever, but she confirmed the relationship will not be rekindled.
Paul acknowledged setbacks after the breakup, admitting she and Mortensen hooked up after they split and laughing when Cooper pressed for details about the timing, referencing a Stagecoach festival appearance. She said she "won't lie about" returning to the relationship at times while she struggled to let go, but added that she ultimately was the one to end it.
She said Mortensen would be learning about her role on The Bachelorette the same way the public has — through media and the podcast — and predicted he would be "sad" at the news. Paul noted that Mortensen was already aware she had been dating or meeting other people, which she said presented an initial hurdle in their post‑breakup interactions.
Paul also addressed her broader family situation. In addition to Ever, she shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with her ex‑husband, Tate Paul. She confirmed that, ahead of filming, she has been seeing a man she described as a "good soul" and "mature," whom she has met twice. Paul said the relationship is not official, that the man knows about her upcoming Bachelorette role and that he would not compete for her on the show.
Paul framed her recent social‑media posts that hinted at a new romance as neither a "soft launch" nor a declaration of a committed relationship. She said she wanted to do some dating before filming and that the man would "maybe … be here" if she did not form a connection with someone on the show. Friends have characterized his decision not to appear on the series as a "green flag," Paul said.
The revelations come as production for The Bachelorette approaches and as Paul moves into the public role of franchise lead. She has previously built a following through TikTok and reality‑TV appearances; her candid remarks on Call Her Daddy offer one of her most detailed accounts yet of the end of her relationship with Mortensen and how she intends to navigate dating and co‑parenting while in the spotlight.
Representatives for Paul and Mortensen did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Bachelorette season and casting details beyond Paul's role have not been released by the show.