Dakota Mortensen confessed to being "obsessed" with Taylor Frankie Paul in a newly released trailer for Season 5 of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." The preview features Mortensen revealing a tattoo of Paul's initials on his inner lip during a video call, prompting Paul to question his "obsessed" behavior.

The trailer also addresses the fallout from a 2023 domestic dispute between Paul and Mortensen, which resulted in Paul's season of "The Bachelorette" being canceled by ABC. Footage of the incident was leaked in March, leading to Paul's arrest and charges of aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse, and criminal mischief.

Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as part of a plea deal, with the charge to be reduced to a misdemeanor upon completion of her three-year probation. The other charges were dismissed. Although her arrest was previously documented in Season 1 of the Hulu series, the leaked video footage intensified scrutiny and prompted ABC's decision to cancel her "Bachelorette" season.

Legal and Filming Ramifications

Another domestic violence investigation involving Paul, stemming from an alleged incident in February, also led to a halt in filming for "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" Season 5. Following the video's release, a spokesperson for Paul criticized the "selectively edited" video, asserting it omitted context and was part of Mortensen's "destructive campaign to harm Taylor."

Mortensen, in response, stated that the situation was "deeply upsetting" and denied "baseless claims" about him and their relationship, emphasizing his focus on their son's safety. The former couple, who began their on-again, off-again relationship in 2022 and share a son, Ever, have accused each other of domestic abuse and filed restraining orders.

Custody Battle

The exes have also been engaged in a contentious custody battle over their two-year-old son. Paul lost temporary custody of Ever on March 19, following the investigation into the February alleged domestic violence incident, with Mortensen being granted temporary custody. In a subsequent court hearing last month, Paul's parenting time was expanded.

Season 5 of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" is set to premiere on Hulu on September 15.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.