Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out against what she describes as misconceptions about her parenting amid ongoing legal struggles, stating that she does not claim to be a "mother of the year" but intends to fight back. Paul, 32, shared her perspective in a video on Saturday, as she is currently involved in a custody battle for her two-year-old son, Ever, with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, 33.
Paul also has an eight-year-old daughter, Indy, and a six-year-old son, Ocean, with her ex-husband, Tate Paul. In a video shared while applying makeup, Paul stated that she is learning from her experiences with "false headlines" and understanding that much of the information circulating is untrue.
She alluded to a recent petition filed by Utah's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which requested a juvenile court to order protective supervision for her three children, citing allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency. Paul compared the situation to her experiences filming "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," suggesting that she knows the truth of her own life, regardless of how it is perceived or presented publicly.
Paul indicated that she is consulting with her legal team regarding the allegations in the DCFS filing, noting that the matter will be addressed in court. She mentioned her efforts to keep the details of the filing sealed to protect her children and expressed that she has made progress in court, though the process is slow.
She believes the proceedings could take up to a year but feels she is achieving her goal of spending more time with her son. Paul suggested that details about the legal proceedings were "leaked" around the same time she resumed visitation with Ever. She specifically denied claims that she instructed her daughter Indy to change her youngest son's diapers, explaining that she allows her daughter to help if she wishes.
Paul shared a photo of Ever on Instagram Stories, captioning it "Saturday morning with my boy." She stated her intention in sharing her perspective is not to sway public opinion but to be an "open book," admitting to having faults but maintaining confidence that her children would choose her. She described the recent events as the most difficult she has ever experienced.
In March 2023, a video surfaced showing Paul in an altercation with Mortensen with her minor daughter present, which led to the shelving of her season of "The Bachelorette." Paul accepted a plea deal in that case. She was also linked to a separate incident involving Mortensen in February, for which prosecutors declined to press charges in April. At that time, Mortensen was awarded temporary custody, with Paul granted supervised weekly visits with Ever.
Both Paul and Mortensen had been granted protection orders. A July hearing revised the custody order, granting both parents longer visitation periods. Paul's ex-husband, Tate Paul, recently sought a temporary restraining order against her, and she stated she would submit to drug tests for unsupervised visits with her older children. The results of these tests are pending.
Representatives for Paul stated last week that the custody actions were moved to juvenile court, a common step for complex custody matters. They added that Paul welcomes the added structure and oversight and is committed to normalizing custody and becoming healthier. The statement also expressed appreciation for the professionalism of DCFS.
Tate Paul and Dakota Mortensen issued a joint statement through their lawyers, explaining their public silence was to protect their children. They expressed concern that Paul's statements minimize the gravity of the DCFS action and her conduct. The statement concluded by saying they would tell their story in the appropriate forum when the time is right.