"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" starTaylor Frankie Paulis speaking out against her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, after ABC pulled her season of "The Bachelorette" this week.
"Taylor is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security," a spokesperson for Paul said in a statement toVariety. "After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm."
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Paul's season of "The Bachelorette"was pulledfollowing a newly released video surfacing from an alleged domestic violence incident in 2023 between her and Mortensen, with whom she shares a child.
ABC told HuffPost their "focus is on supporting the family."
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The videoshared by TMZ, taken by Mortensen, appears to show Paul hitting him, while their now 8-year-old daughter was in the room.
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He can be heard telling Paul, "This is called physical abuse," and "Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair."
Paul was previously arrested on assault anddomestic violence chargesinvolving Mortensen in 2023, but pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in exchange for all other charges being dismissed with prejudice.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utahtold Peoplethere is an open "domestic assault investigation."
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Paul's statement to Variety about Mortensen read in part, "There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives."
The statement ended, "Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story."
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for theNational Domestic Violence Hotline.
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