Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out after a judge ruled that the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star had successfully completed the terms of her three-year probation.
“Three years probation complete. All my [probation officers] said it was one of the longest probations they had seen for [a] first-time offense,” Paul, 32, wrote via Instagram on Friday, August 7. “Back then, I wasn’t even aware of what [domestic violence] was. Unfortunately, many will experience it as many already have.”
Us confirmed earlier on Friday that Paul was no longer on probation with a judge amending her aggravated assault felony charge to a Class A misdemeanor. She had been arrested in 2023 following an alleged altercation with then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. At the time, Paul pleaded guilty to assault as part of a plea deal to dismiss other charges pertaining to child abuse.
“DV is a sneaky cycle to get stuck in because by the time you realize what actually is happening you’re already stuck in it,” Paul stated on Friday. “I don’t care if you see me as the villain or victim. This all surfacing the way it viciously and vindictively did, has been hell on earth and if I didn’t have the support I have I don’t think I would have made it through.”
Footage from Paul’s arrest was leaked in March, where the influencer was seen throwing chairs at Mortensen, 33, in front of her daughter, Indy. (Taylor shares Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6, with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever, 2, with Mortensen.)
In light of the video’s release, Taylor temporarily lost custody of Ever. She has since been awarded visitation rights from a judge, who also issued mutual protective orders to Taylor and Mortensen. (The now-exes must stay 100 feet away from each other at all times.)
“This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” the judge said during an April hearing. “What I’ve seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents.”
According to the judge, he was initially hesitant to rule on custodial arrangements for Ever.
“I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict. You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict,” the judge stated at the time. “I’m going to leave the current order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it.”
Taylor and Mortensen have each vehemently denied the accusations against themselves.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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