Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen share conflicting assault claims

Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions and video that some readers may find disturbing.

More details are emerging about dueling accusations from "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" starsTaylor Frankie PaulandDakota Mortensenabout alleged domestic violence over a 24-hour period earlier this year.

The exes describe an altercation in Mortensen's car in the early morning of Feb. 23, but their respective reports differ about the specifics of the alleged incidents on Feb. 22 and 23, detailed in Draper City, Utah, police records obtained by USA TODAY on April 16.

Mortensen, 33, alleged to a Draper City Police Department officer that 31-year-old Paul threw a drink at him, while Paul said in her statement that his drink spilled, causing him to get upset. While she alleges that he grabbed her head and slammed it against the dashboard, Mortensen wrote in his police report that "she began to kick my screen and punch my rearview mirror" before "trying to hit me and squeezing my face."

He then alleged he "shoved her off me," which caused her to "hit her head on the screen of my truck."

Lacking 'sufficient evidence':Taylor Frankie Paul not charged after domestic violence probe

Taylor Frankie Paul took the reality TV world by storm in 2024 when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" became a cultural phenomenon. The "MomTok" influencer and most recent "Bachelorette" spoke candidly about her infamous "swinging scandal" and has faced legal troubles throughout the show.

See her career in the spotlight, beginning here backstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul attends the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at The Kia Forum on Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Former NBA player Tacko Fall and Paul before the start of the game.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul was named ABC's "Bachelorette” for 2026. She is the first "Bachelorette" lead to helm the franchise despite never appearing on "The Bachelor".

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul attends the 2025 TIME100 Creators Launch Party at Gansevoort Rooftop on July 10, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul at an event hosted by Hulu on April 22, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives" stars Layla Taylor, Miranda McWhorter, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Whitney Leavitt and Demi Engemann attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Season 2 at Paramount Studios on May 9, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Affleck, Paul, McWhorter, Neeley, and Matthews at SiriusXM Studios on May 8, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mitchell Tenpenny and Paul speak onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 20, 2024, in Nashville.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul poses on the red carpet before the CMAs.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See 'Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul's life in the spotlight

Taylor Frankie Paultook the reality TV world by storm in 2024 when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" became a cultural phenomenon. The "MomTok" influencer and most recent "Bachelorette" spoke candidly about her infamous "swinging scandal" and hasfaced legal troubles throughout the show.See her career in the spotlight, beginning here backstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

Weeks later, on March 19, police followed up at Mortensen's house and inspected his car, determining the rearview mirror and display screen were "working with no signs of damage."

Photos of their respective injuries from the alleged altercation, including scratches on Mortensen's neck and a hematoma on Paul's forehead, as well as wounds from past alleged incidents, were provided to police as evidence.

The investigation began when Mortensen's friend, Crew Eaton, called the police department the evening of Feb. 23 to express concern about Mortensen allegedly being assaulted by Paul earlier that day. That night, an officer arrived at Eaton and Mortensen's home to speak with Mortensen about the alleged incidents, which also include Mortensen's claim Paul assaulted him the morning of Feb. 22.

Why prosecutors aren't charging Taylor Frankie Paul or Dakota Mortensen

On April 14, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced it wasdeclining to pursue chargesin this case due to lack of sufficient evidence. The following day, Draper's city prosecutor also said the office would not file charges due to "likelihood of success at trial," the Draper police department detective wrote in the report.

The officer noted that on March 20, the city's prosecutor "advised that neither Taylor or Dakota are credible witnesses, with both their statements being fraught with inconsistencies."

"After a thorough investigation by Draper Police, the City Prosecutor has determined that there is insufficient corroborating evidence to support filing criminal charges against either party, as the City must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt," an April 16 statement from the Draper City Justice Court said.

This legal development comes amid competing requests for protective orders from both parties.

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Paulfiled a petition for a protective orderagainst Mortensen, who currently has hisown temporary protective orderagainst Paul. In her filing, Paul alleged a "high number of instances of abuse and domestic violence" that include four incidents involving assault, harassment and stalking from March 2025 to Feb. 23, 2026.

"As the Court will note from our competing requests for protective orders, our accounts as to what happened in his truck differ wildly," Paul acknowledged in her filing. "Essentially, we each allege that we were physically assaulted by the other."

Mortensen provided Draper police with several photos and videos of confrontations with Paul and his alleged injuries, which date back to August 2024.

Paul and Mortensen's son is in the middle of their competing claims

According to Mortensen's temporary protective order against Paul, issued by the judge April 7 and obtained by USA TODAY, Mortensen retains temporary custody of their son, whilePaul has been granted "up to eight hours"of supervised parent time each week.

Mortensen and Paul share 2-year-old son, Ever. Paul and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, have two children together: Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5.

In the Draper detective's report, he noted a Child Protective Services investigation into both parties was ongoing, noting a 2025 incident in which, according to the officer, Paul allegedly gave Mortensen a "constant push" to the door of her house as he was holding their son.

Dakota Mortensen, Taylor Frankie Paul's other investigations

On March 24,NBC News reportedpolice in West Jordan, Utah, were investigatingMortensen's new allegationsagainst Paul of a domestic violence incident in 2024, which he'd contacted police about in February. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also declined to pursue charges based on unspecified evidence submitted for screening by the West Jordan Police Department.

Some reported incidents "occurred more than three years ago" and are barred by the two-year statute of limitations. More recent alleged incidents "do not rise to the level of criminal offenses," the office said in its April 14 statement.

In February 2023, Paul was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief, and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according topolice. Paul entered a plea of abeyance to a felony aggravated assault charge following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen.

People,KSL.com,and theSalt Lake Tribunereported that while the other criminal charges were dropped, the aggravated assault charge will reportedly remain for a three-year probationary period until Paul meets the conditions of her agreement with the court.

(This story was updated to include new information.)

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’sNational Sexual Assault Hotlineoffers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen police reports detail fight

byJastin Mags

in

April 18, 2026

Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen share conflicting assault claims

Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions and video that some readers may find disturbing. More details are eme...

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Before Ruby Rose, Model In Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ Made Bombshell Misconduct Claim

In 2019, Model and actorJosh Kloss, who starred in Katy Perry’sTeenage Dreammusic video, accused her of publicly humiliating him at a 2012 party.

The accusation is being revisited by social media users amid the singer facing s**ual a**ault claims by Australian actressRuby Rose.

Rose allegesPerryrubbed her privates in her face at Melbourne’s Spice Market nightclub when they were both in their 20s, which made her “projectile vomit.”

Some netizens have called Perry the“female Diddy”amid the fiasco.

Katy Perry’sTeenage Dreamco-star accused her of overstepping boundaries with him

Image credits:katyperry

Kloss made his allegations in a now-deleted Instagram post that read: “So I sawKatya couple times after her breakup with Russell [Brand]. This one time, I brought a friend who was d**ng to meet her.

“It was Johnny Wujek’s birthday party at Moonlight Rollerway. When I saw her, we hugged, and she was still my crush.”

Image credits:katyperry

“But as I turned to introduce my friend, she pulled myAdidassweats and underwear down as far as she could to show my p**is to a couple of her guy friends and the crowd around us. Can you imagine how pathetic and embarrassed I felt?”

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Wujek, a renowned costume designer based inLos Angeles, defended Perry at the time and said Kloss had developed an “obsession” with her since they worked together.

“Katy would never do something like that,” he added.

Image credits:Getty/Paul Archuleta

Perry addressed the allegation in a 2020 interview withThe Guardian,saying, “I don’t want to say ‘guilty until proven innocent,’ but there are no checks and balances. A headline just flies. There’s no investigation of what it is.”

Katy Perry could not say the same about Ruby Rose’s claim, as the actress has filed an official police report

Image credits:Capitol Records, LLC

Rose made her allegations against Perry on Threads on April 12 and, on April 14, provided an update, saying she had “finalized” filing a complaint against the singer.

Victoria Police confirmed to local dailyThe Herald Sunthat they’re investigating “a historical s**ual a**ault” inMelbournedating back to 2010.

Image credits:Capitol Records, LLC

“As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage,” they added.

The owner of the concerned nightclub, in a statement, said Perry and Rose were “drunk” but not “paralytic” on the night in question.

Image credits:katyperry

He said he was unaware of any alleged misconduct or of someone vomiting.

Meanwhile, the singer’s representatives said, “The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, but they are also dangerous, reckless lies.”

Image credits:rubyrose

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The statement noted that Rose had a “well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals,” but failed to name any figures.

Other instances of Perry behaving questionably also resurfaced online this week

A video of Perry grabbingJustin Bieber’s backside at the 2012 Capital Summertime Ball is being widely shared on social media.

“Now imagine the gender reversed,” a Redditor commented, while another flagged the age difference between both musicians, with Perry being 28 at the time and Bieber being 18.

Image credits:katyperry

Anna Kendrick’s 2014 appearance on Conan O’Brien’s eponymous talk show, where she described Perry inappropriately touching her at that year’s Grammys, went viral too.

“Katy Perry f**ger b**ged my cleavage,” theA Simple Favoractress told O’Brien, though her tone was playful.

Kendrick said her dress was “kinda asking for it” and that “if nobody had done it,” she would’ve been disappointed.

Netizens used the interview to label Perry “predatory.”

Image credits:katyperry

In 2018, while serving as a judge onAmerican Idol, Perry stirred controversy by kissing contestant Benjamin Glaze on the lips without warning after he confessed he had never been kissed.

Glaze, in his response, said he did not consider the encounter harassment but acknowledged that it made him uncomfortable.

“She needs to be locked up,” a netizen said about Katy Perry

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byJastin Mags

in

April 17, 2026

Before Ruby Rose, Model In Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ Made Bombshell Misconduct Claim

In 2019, Model and actorJosh Kloss, who starred in Katy Perry’sTeenage Dreammusic video, accused her of publicly humiliating him at a 2...

Read More

Iconic movie sets where the cast secretly struggled with burnout

Hollywood presents a stunning illusion: flawless performances, breathtaking visuals, and a life of glamour. Yet, behind the velvet ropes and dazzling premieres lies a harsh reality. Even the most iconic, beloved films—the masterpieces we revisit year after year—were often forged under conditions of extreme schedules, punishing pressure, and immense emotional strain.

The Glamorous Illusion

To achieve cinematic greatness, cast and crew often pushed past physical and emotional limits. This is a peek behind the scenes at the true human cost of filmmaking, revealing how members of legendary productions managed—or tragically failed to manage—the insidious presence of burnout.

Image Credit: danefromspain/iStock

What Burnout Looked Like on Movie Sets

In the context of film production, burnout is amplified and multifaceted. It’s not just “being tired”; it’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress.

On set, this looked like:

• Physical Exhaustion: Non-stop 14 to 18-hour “Frantic Four” days for weeks on end.

• Emotional Strain: Sustained immersion in intense, often traumatic character psychologies.

• High Stakes Pressure: The financial and critical weight of multi-million dollar productions resting on a perfect performance.

While today the industry is moving toward modern wellness strategies—including on-set therapists and regulated hours—the golden age of filmmaking often lacked any formal mental health awareness or support system, demanding exceptional personal resilience.

Image Credit: IMDb.

Movie Set 1:Apocalypse Now(1979)

Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epicis the definitive case study in cinematic chaos and emotional trauma.

The filming conditions in the Philippines were brutal: tropical heat, dangerous stunts, and production delays that stretched the schedule from weeks to over a year. The intensity was so high that actor Martin Sheen suffered a massive heart attack on set. The cast, immersed in the physical and psychological chaos of war, experienced a blurring between performance and reality, resulting in what some described as PTSD-like symptoms and extreme exhaustion. The final, raw nature of the film is undeniably linked to the sheer mental and physical strain endured by everyone involved.

Image Credit: IMDb.

Movie Set 2:The Shining(1980)

Stanley Kubrickwas known for his notoriously perfectionist directing style, demanding dozens of takes for even the simplest scenes. While this method produced genius, it came at a significant human cost, particularly for the lead actress.

Shelley Duvall’s emotional toll during the filming was intense and highly documented. The constant pressure, the isolation on set, and the relentless emotional work required to play Wendy Torrance ultimately led to a breakdown. This set remains a stark lesson in director-actor dynamics and the crucial need for emotional safety and trust on any professional set.

Image Credit: IMDb

Movie Set 3: Titanic (1997)

James Cameron’s blockbusterdemanded physical endurance rarely seen in mainstream cinema.

The physical demands were extreme, requiring long water shoots and managing extreme temperatures in massive tanks. Actors had to repeatedly re-enact scenes of panic and despair, leading to emotional burnout from repeated intense scenes. Crew members suffered food poisoning, and the demanding pace was relentless. The film highlighted the need for better resources for recovery and the importance of having on-set wellness support to manage the physical degradation caused by environmental extremes.

Image Credit: IMDB / New Line Cinema.

Movie Set 4:Lord of the Rings Trilogy(2001–2003)

This was a burnout crisis defined by duration.Peter Jackson’s trilogyinvolved a multi-year filming schedule across the remote and physically challenging landscapes of New Zealand.

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The cast and crew endured mental fatigue, chronic injuries, and sustained immersion in the work far away from home and support systems. Their coping strategies often involved intense camaraderie and finding relief in structured rest when it was available. The lessons learned from this marathon production have since emphasized the need for planned breaks, psychological debriefing, and a long-term view of a performer’s health.

Image Credit: Universal Pictures/IMDb

Movie Set 5:Les Misérables(2012)

Tom Hooper’s musical adaptationintroduced an intense new element: requiring the cast to perform live singing on set.

This decision added massive vocal and emotional strain. The actors had to combine physically demanding, tear-soaked performances with the unforgiving discipline of live vocal delivery, making the risk of burnout exponential. This production underscores how proper vocal care and emotional support are absolutely essential for performing artists who merge physical action with highly expressive emotional labor.

Image Credit: IMDb.

Movie Set 6:Black Swan(2010)

Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thrillerdemanded Natalie Portman’s extreme physical preparation—she lost significant weight and trained for months to achieve a professional dancer’s physique.

The film serves as a discussion point for the fine line between dedication and mental health risks. While method acting can produce Oscar-winning results, the intense psychological immersion and physical deprivation necessary for the role raised questions about balance and personal wellness. Today’s industry encourages dialogue about the limits of performance and how actors can maintain personal wellness while immersing themselves in demanding roles.

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Common Patterns Across Iconic Sets

While the films and genres vary, a few recurring patterns define the burnout crisis in classic filmmaking:

• Unrealistic Schedules: The pressure to finish on time and under budget.

• Perfectionism without Pacing: Directorial styles that pushed technical and emotional boundaries relentlessly.

• Lack of Resources: Minimal mental health resources or dedicated support staff for emotional or psychological debriefing.

• Emotional Isolation: Working far from home and core support systems for extended periods.

This is a clear contrast with today’s growing awareness, which now mandates set regulations, encourages mindfulness practices, and provides dedicated on-set physical and psychological care.

How Today’s Industry is Learning From the Past

The human cost of these iconic films has driven significant change. Today’s industry isimplementing protocolsdesigned to protect its people:

• Mental Health Support: Mandating access to on-set therapists and wellness coaches.

• Regulated Hours: Implementing strict union rules regarding maximum work hours and mandatory rest periods.

• Resource Allocation: Greater reliance on stunt doubles and technical wizardry to minimize physical danger to principal actors.

These lessons are vital not just for aspiring actors, but for anyone in a high-pressure, emotionally demanding work environment, proving that great work should not require self-destruction.

Image Credit: ppengcreative/iStock

The takeaway

Our most beloved films required more than just skill and budget; they required the sustained, often painful, human endurance of their creators. We must appreciate those unforgettable performances while acknowledging the serious human cost behind them.

The great films of the past teach us a powerful lesson for the future: passion is crucial, but it must be balanced by an unwavering commitment to mental and physical health.

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byJastin Mags

in

April 17, 2026

Iconic movie sets where the cast secretly struggled with burnout

Hollywood presents a stunning illusion: flawless performances, breathtaking visuals, and a life of glamour. Yet, behind the velvet rope...

Read More