Production on Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has resumed after a months-long pause triggered by domestic violence allegations against star Taylor Frankie Paul, though her return remains uncertain amid ongoing legal and personal fallout.
The confirmation came from Hulu ahead of Disney’s “Get Real” showcase on April 22, where the streamer aimed to clear the slate before a wave of announcements. Filming had halted in mid-March following reports that Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen were under investigation by the Draper City Police Department for an incident in late February. Though the altercation did not occur on set, it prompted an immediate pause just days after Season 4 premiered.
Multiple attorneys reviewed the case, and earlier this month, the court announced Paul would face no charges. This decision echoed a prior incident in 2023 when Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against Mortensen — an altercation that had been depicted in Season 1 but only recently surfaced in full when TMZ released courtroom footage on March 19 showing her throwing metal barstools while a child from her previous marriage was nearby.
The timing proved consequential: within days, Disney pulled the March 22 premiere of “The Bachelorette,” which had already filmed Paul as its lead. In a statement, the network said it would not move forward with the season, citing the require to support the family. Paul’s spokesperson responded by framing her silence as survival, saying she had endured years of abuse and threats and was now seeking to reclaim her narrative.
Both Paul and Mortensen have since filed restraining orders against each other. The show’s ensemble — including Jessi Draper, Jen Affleck, Miranda McWhorter, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, and Mayci Neeley — remains intact, with all eight women serving as executive producers. It remains unclear whether Paul will rejoin the cast when filming fully resumes.
The series, produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions in association with 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative, has become a focal point for discussions about how reality TV navigates off-camera trauma. Unlike scripted dramas that can rewrite or reshoot, the show’s authenticity hinges on the participants’ real lives — a dynamic now tested by allegations, legal proceedings, and public reckoning.
Will Taylor Frankie Paul return to the show for Season 5?
It has not yet been confirmed whether Paul will rejoin the cast, as her involvement remains under discussion amid ongoing legal proceedings and personal statements about her healing process.
What prompted the initial pause in production?
Production was paused in mid-March after the Draper City Police Department opened an investigation into domestic violence allegations made by both Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen regarding an incident in late February.
