By Solé Scott
Editor-in-Chief
Taylor Frankie Paul’s 15 minutes have expired, and I do not know how she will ever be able to recover.
On March 19, PEOPLE, TMZ and Variety reported on Paul’s newly released domestic violence video that her ex, Dakota Mortensen, recorded.
In the disturbing video, viewers can see Paul attacking Mortensen by punching and throwing chairs at him, all while her daughter is present. The most shocking and disgusting part of the video is Paul thowing a chair, which hit her daughter.
Now, this energy is not new to people who watch “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” as this was the introduction to Paul in season 1 episode 1.
However, we never saw the footage of this specific incident. All that was available was the police body cam from the aftermath.
Subsequently, her season of “The Bachelorette,” which was supposed to premiere on March 22, was canceled by ABC.
The media is blaming Paul for this dumpster fire, yet they should blame the majority of it on the network because they did not do their homework.
ABC is reportedly losing millions of dollars by shelving this season. This was their first time choosing the lead without any ties to the Bachelor nation.
All of this could have been prevented, but no, those at “The Bachelorette” thought they were going to pull in record viewers because the star of the season was a popular influencer.
Since then, we have seen the man she chose at the end of the vaulted season. His name is Doug Mason, and he scarily resembles her ex, Mortensen.
Thanks to this situation, we are left with some has-been man still craving his 15 minutes of fame. I saw Mason on my for you page making a TikTok of himself announcing his singing career.
Paul’s toxic obsession with Mortensen has been on display for years. Recently on TSLOMW, she got mad that he was on Vanderpump Villa, and that he slept with a woman on national TV. At one point during the hysterical breakdown, she asked whether he ejaculated.
Paul is one of the most deranged and pathetic humans that has graced my television in years. So, I am not sure why her antics have been overlooked for so long.
Mortensen is not exempt from this either, having displayed manipulative behavior throughout every season of TSLOMW. Unfortunately, all of this is just an abusive cycle that the public was already aware of.
All billboard promotions for this show have been taken down, yet her promotions are still up on their socials. In addition, Paul has temporarily lost custody of her son, Ever.
I love good and messy reality drama, but at some point, the chaos stops being entertaining and starts being irresponsible.
Ultimately, this situation is less about one influencer’s downfall and more about an industry that continues to prioritize virality over vetting.
While Paul’s actions are indefensible, the decision to elevate her to a national platform despite a documented history of instability raises significant questions about accountability behind the scenes.
In the end, the fallout was inevitable. This was only a matter of when, not if.
