SALT LAKE CITY — After weeks of headlines about domestic disputes, physical violence, criminal investigations and off-screen drama, a Utah judge simply told reality stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen that they “need to stay away from each other.”
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A judge ultimately granted the “Secret Lives of Mormon Housewives” stars a mutual protection order during a court hearing Thursday. It was the first time the on-again, off-again couple had been seen together in public since the two hit reality series that Paul was supposed to star in, “Secret Lives” and “The Bachelorette,” were halted from production and airing due to videos of altercations, and since incidents of marital violence made headlines across the country.
Thursday’s meeting between Paul and Mortensen was different from what “Mormon Wife” viewers are used to seeing on screen — neither Paul nor Mortensen appeared to acknowledge the other. During the nearly two-hour hearing, both men spoke calmly, respectfully and carefully as they debated the merits of competing temporary protection orders.
The only thing familiar to fans: Paul showed up a little later, wearing a neutral-toned outfit and a Louis Vuitton tote slung over his shoulder.
Paul, 31, and her ex-partner Mortensen, 33, have filed dueling petitions for protective orders against each other, with both claiming the other committed abusive behavior. Their lawyers argued that a family judge uphold their client’s order and set aside the other order, while also arguing over who should have primary custody of their shared 2-year-old son.
Third District Court Chief Judge Russell Minas said there was “warranty” in both parties’ claims, but that they shouldn’t be in the same place at the same time for the sake of their son.
“All the evidence seems to suggest it’s a bad idea,” Minas said.
After court, one of Paul’s lawyers, Eric Swinyard, said his team was satisfied with the outcome.
“What we wanted on the domestic violence front was to end the relationship,” he said, adding: “We wanted an order to be given.”
The order lasts for three years and requires Paul and Mortensen to stay 100 feet away from each other, Minas said. If they violate this, “they will be held criminally responsible.”
Minas admitted that Paul and Mortensen have a “very toxic relationship” but “continue to be attracted to each other.”
“I hope you’re not the kind of people who only survive by watching drama and conflict,” he told them. “We have to put our children first and protect them from this conflict.”
In his statement, Mr Swinyard also acknowledged that his client had taken responsibility for his past actions.
“Taylor has been incredibly candid in court that he is not perfect and that he is at fault, in stark contrast to the way his opponents have argued, despite evidence and opinions from law enforcement showing otherwise,” he said.
Mortensen’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Thursday’s hearing.
The court was expected to rule on a custody agreement for the couple’s son, Ever. Minas said she needed more time to think about it and would wait for the Department of Children and Family Services’ evaluation.
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Mr Swinyard said: “Ultimately today’s outcome is what we expected in terms of child protection.”
Minas said he will make a written recommendation on the parents’ schedule by May 11, and a review hearing will be held June 1.
No other “Mormon Wife” cast members were in the courtroom, but Paul and Mortensen’s families were present to show their support.
After the order was granted, an emotional Paul said goodbye to Mortensen’s family in the small 28-seat courtroom, crying as he hugged his mother. Her mother also shed tears.
Mortensen’s friend and roommate Crew Eaton expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, calling it “a joke and pathetic.”
Ms Eaton, who came to the court to support her friend of seven years, said it was “quite shocking that the judge was so upset” and that so much was left unsaid in court.
“Taylor needs help, but I don’t trust her with Ever,” Eaton told NBC News. “It’s almost like an impossible battle when she has the backing of ABC and Hulu.”
Paul’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Eaton’s comments.
Paul, who rose from TikTok personality to reality TV star, has been removed from starring on the upcoming season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” after she and Mortensen were reportedly involved in an ongoing domestic violence investigation.
The decision to cancel “The Bachelorette” was prompted by a TMZ video showing Paul attacking Mortensen in front of his daughter in 2023.
Paul was charged in the incident on that video. She pleaded guilty pending to one charge of aggravated assault related to the February 2023 charge, according to the plea agreement. Four other charges in the case, including assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, were dismissed with prejudice.
In court Thursday, Paul’s attorney argued that the 2023 video was released to TMZ days before Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” aired. That same day, Mortensen filed a request to modify the confidentiality order, he said.
“I understand he denies doing this, but a lot of the information could have been leaked by Dakota, or at least left his fingerprints all over it,” Swinyard said.
“He literally wants to destroy her,” Swinyard added.
Swinyard acknowledged Paul’s role in the video.
“My client has absolutely no excuse for this. … It’s a tragedy that Dakota and my client’s daughter were victims of her actions,” he said.
He noted that Paul had previously made allegations of assaulting Mortensen, who was suffering from two miscarriages at the time of the incident, and was scheduled to complete her probation in August.
Mortensen’s attorney, Brent Hall, denied that his client leaked the video, adding, “He told his publicist not to release the video.”
Hall said Mortensen filed for the protection order “to break the cycle” between her and Paul and “to protect the child and stop the violence.”
Hall questioned Paul’s motives for the protective order, saying it was “not to protect her son, but to protect her image.”
In late February, Mortensen reported allegations of domestic violence against Paul stemming from incidents that occurred in West Jordan and Draper, Utah, in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Paul also reported charges against Mortensen from Draper Co. in connection with the 2026 incident, spokespeople for both police departments confirmed to NBC News.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced in April that it would not indict Paul in connection with the reported incident, citing statute of limitations issues and a lack of evidence. Days later, the city of Draper announced that Mortensen would not be charged.
The recent altercation also affected Mortensen, who was edited out of the new season of the show “Vanderpump Villa.”
The cast of “Mormon Housewives” expressed concerns about their co-star’s behavior in a March meeting with ABC executives, the recording of which was shared with NBC News. The meeting took place after news of the criminal investigation broke and was unrelated to Thursday’s protective order hearing.
At the meeting, the cast chose to pause filming pending legal action in Paul’s case, and audio recordings showed the decision was unanimous. The show has decided to resume cameras on April 21, a person with knowledge of the decision told NBC News.
It’s unclear whether Paul and Mortensen will appear on the Hulu reality series in the future, but the new protection order means they can’t be in the same place at the same time.
Rebecca Cohen reported from Salt Lake City and Marlene Rentan from Los Angeles.
