Is ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ canceled? Hulu halts Season 5 filming amid Taylor Paul controversy
Warning: This article contains a recollection of a crime and may be triggering to some readers. Readers’ discretion is advised.
The production for ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ has hit an unexpected wall, leaving fans in limbo. According to multiple reports, filming for Season 5 has halted, and insiders say it is not just a minor delay that could be fixed next week. Sources told PEOPLE that cameras are currently down, with one insider putting it bluntly, “They are not filming.” And the reason circles back to one person at the center of it all: Taylor Frankie Paul. She is the original face behind the MomTok circle that helped launch the show into the spotlight in the first place. According to that same source, she is dealing with “some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens. Until that resolves, they are off.”
Moreover, a spokesperson from the Draper City Police Department confirmed there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The details are, as expected, limited. Authorities said, “allegations have been made in both directions,” and officers had contact with those involved across two days in late February. That is about as much as they are willing to say right now. The rest is under wraps. And while legal matters play out behind closed doors, things within the show’s inner circle are shifting too. Another source told PEOPLE that members of MomTok are pulling away from Paul.
“None of the women want to be associated with her,” the insider said. Meanwhile, the halt in filming comes just days after Hulu dropped Season 4 of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And as of yet, there is no official word from Hulu. The first hint that something was off did not come from the show itself, though. It came from TMZ, which initially reported that filming had been halted. After that, the pieces started falling into place or maybe falling apart is the better way to put it. And the ripple effects are not stopping at Hulu. Paul’s involvement in another reality franchise has also taken a hit. Her season tied to ‘The Bachelorette’ was supposed to premiere on March 22. However, that did not happen. At the last minute, ABC pulled it from the schedule.
If this all feels familiar, it is because this is not the first time Paul’s personal life has spilled into headlines and become the center of her life. Back in 2023, she was arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen. The situation was messy and widely covered. At the time, she faced misdemeanor charges, including assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child. Multiple reports, including coverage from CBS News, stated that she was accused of throwing a chair that allegedly struck her daughter. Later, during an appearance on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, Paul said those charges were ultimately dropped. And now, with a new investigation underway, it’s back in focus.
