Taylor Frankie Paul’s Leaked TMZ Video

In early March 2026, rumors of a major altercation between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen were gaining traction fast. By mid-March, news broke that Dakota Mortensen had filed a protective order against Paul—and footage of their infamous 2023 altercation surfaced on TMZ the same day.

The video shows Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen chasing each other around her house as their fight escalates from verbal to physical. Paul attempts to put Mortensen in a headlock before throwing metal chairs and a wooden playset at him—one of which strikes her child, who was caught in the crossfire.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette Season Canceled Last Minute

Upon the video’s release, production for season five of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives came to an immediate halt. Details of Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s most recent altercation were not immediately released, but the Draper City Police confirmed there was an open domestic assault investigation.

After the investigation was confirmed, network executives canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming Bachelorette season—despite the premiere being just days away.

MomTok Background: How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Got Here

From TikTok to Hulu, MomTok has grown exponentially. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives took the world by storm when it was first released in 2024. The reality TV show follows a group of Utah influencers (Taylor Frankie Paul, Jen Affleck, Jessi Draper, Demi Engemann, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Layla Taylor, and Miranda Hope) who found success amidst a social media scandal.

Taylor Frankie Paul launched the women into virality after revealing on TikTok live that she and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, were swingers—despite being Mormon. Miranda Hope and her ex-husband Chase McWhorter—also Mormon—were among the couples who swung with the Pauls.

The swinging scandal, however, is rarely the show’s focal point. By the time cameras rolled, the women had long since dealt with the backlash—publicly and privately. Their story, though, was far from over.

In the very first episode of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, it’s revealed that Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested while filming season one. After getting into a drunken altercation with her new boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, production was paused for a year.

Taylor Frankie Paul was initially charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief. She plead guilty to aggravated assault; the remaining charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Case: Domestic Violence Charges and Custody Battle

In 2026, Paul was granted a temporary restraining order against Mortensen at the beginning of April. Her filing alleged a “pattern of abusive and coercive control” on his part and detailed four incidents. Exclusive reports from NBC News divulge one of the referenced incidents.

While Paul’s children were sleeping inside her house, she and Dakota Mortensen went outside to fight in his truck. According to Taylor Frankie Paul’s lawyer, “Mortensen allegedly drove away with Paul against her wishes, before the two got into an altercation that included Mortensen grabbing her head and slamming it into the dashboard, then hitting her knee and elbow with his fist.”

Dakota Mortensen was ordered to “stay at least 100 feet away from [her] until their next court hearing on April 30,” and is not allowed to contact Taylor Frankie Paul, according to NBC News. Mortensen will maintain temporary custody of their son, Ever, in the meantime, but Paul was granted supervised parental visits.

DA Declines Charges; Mutual Protective Orders Granted

NBC News announced on April 14 that prosecutors were not filing charges against Taylor Frankie Paul for domestic violence. The DA reasoned that “some of the “misdemeanor offenses” happened more than two years ago and were barred by the statute of limitations.” The remaining offenses either “did not rise to the level of being considered crimes” or lack evidence.

The judge granted mutual protective orders on April 30 but did not rule on the custody agreement for Ever. He, instead, made “a written recommendation about parent time schedules” for the pair to utilize until a review hearing takes place on June 1.”

Demi Engemann’s Defamation Lawsuit: Sexual Assault Claims and Production Company Liability

In 2024, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast appeared on Vanderpump Villa. Most of MomTok, including Demi Engemann, filmed in Italy throughout August. However, the events that transpired were heavily debated by all—even those not in attendance (i.e. Jen Affleck).

Demi Engemann met Marciano Brunette while filming the reality TV crossover. The two seemed to hit it off instantly—from the promos alone, viewers sensed palpable chemistry. Soon after, rumors of an affair began to swirl.

Around this same time, Demi Engemann went public with her account of the events that unfolded over the summer. She accused Marciano of sexual assault on social media, as well as in interviews, and called him a “sexual predator.”

Understanding Defamation Per Se in the Age of Influencer Accusations

Inherently harmful false statements of fact are categorized as defamation per se. Due to the claim’s severe degenerative nature, damages are presumed to exist in cases of defamation per se.

Defamation per se pertains to allegations of:

• Criminal Activity
• Sexual Misconduct
• Loathsome Disease
• Professional Incompetency or Misconduct

Demi Engemann’s allegations against Marciano Brunette would amount to defamation per se, if proven false.

Marciano filed a defamation lawsuit against Demi shortly after she went public. According to his complaint, “they flirted,” “spoke privately,” and “shared a consensual kiss” before parting ways. He also claims that, after filming, Demi “stayed in contact… for months through calls, FaceTime, texts, invitations, and even location sharing.”

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Production Company Liability

The production company for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is being sued for defamation alongside Demi Engemann. Marciano alleges that “Jeff Jenkins Productions LLC… built major storylines around Engemann’s claims, republished her ‘sexual predator’ statements, and aired the allegations in a way designed to maximize impact while cutting [him] out and denying him any meaningful opportunity to respond.”

Brunette v. Engemann (225-cv-01102)

Marciano Brunette vs. Engemann: Lawsuit Updates and Evidence Fight

Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette began his battle for the unaired Secret Lives of Mormon Wives footage. He is demanding copies of the recordings related to Demi Engemann’s sexual assault allegations. He’s also asked for copies of the production company’s internal communications about her accusations and the editorial decisions they made.

Producers hope Marciano’s defamation lawsuit will be dismissed on summary judgement, but he argues the judge shouldn’t issue a ruling before seeing all the evidence. A valid point… though a potentially moot one, since Marciano reportedly signed a binding release that inhibits legal recourse.

@rmwarnerlaw #DemiEngemann from #TheSecretLivesofMormonWives may be laying low, but #VanderpumpVilla star #Marciano is ready to rumble! 🥊 Will #SLOMW ♬ Self Aware – Temper City

MomTok’s Legal Drama and What It Means for Your Online Reputation

This article is not about who is right or wrong. It is about something that affects every content creator: the fragility of online reputations. Even if both women are somehow completely vindicated, their reputations have been irrevocably altered—and not for the better.

Multiple companies cut ties—not only with Taylor Frankie Paul, but with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a whole, after her 2026 news broke. Cinnabon was the first company to part ways with MomTok, according to NBC News.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s controversy “led [Cinnabon] to reassess [their] collaboration” with The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives because “… it no longer [aligned] with [their] brand values,” a company spokesperson said.

Why Every Content Creator Needs a Digital Law Strategy Now

Unfortunately, the women of MomTok have proven to be a great case study on why every content creator needs a digital law strategy. The higher you go in your career as an influencer, the harder your fall will be when controversies and scandals inevitably go viral.

Every digital strategy should be custom tailored to meet each individual’s specific needs. However, great rules of thumb include:

1. Regularly monitoring your online presence
2. Utilizing search engine optimization to bolster your online presence
3. Maintaining a calm, professional demeanor amidst viral controversy
4. Consulting a seasoned internet lawyer before issuing any statements amidst a crisis

Without an online reputation strategy, you leave yourself vulnerable to:

1. Lasting Reputational Damage
2. Decrease in Sponsorships
3. Loss of Partnerships
4. Financial instability

Contact RM Warner Law today to build a digital law strategy that protects your brand before a crisis strikes. Every post, every video, and every brand collaboration can drastically alter your reputation. Don’t learn that lesson the hard way—remember what the Mormon Wives legal drama taught you.