The drama surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul has taken a major turn.
After weeks of viral speculation and the shocking last-minute cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette, the reality star is officially in the clear regarding recent domestic violence allegations. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon that it has declined to file charges against the mother of three.
“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” the office of DA Sim Gill confirmed.
The news has immediately sparked a wave of conversation across TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), where fans have been tracking every detail of Paul’s turbulent year. For many, the update comes as a surprise following the intense social media firestorm that led ABC to yank the show from its schedule just days before its planned March premiere.
The controversy hit a fever pitch on March , when a new video emerged showing Paul throwing metal stools at her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The footage appeared to show one of her children being hit during the altercation, leading to a massive outcry from fans and viewers.
Because of the viral backlash and the serious nature of the footage, ABC made the multimillion-dollar decision to shelve the season. While the network has remained quiet on the future of the franchise, the legal cloud over its star has finally begun to lift.
DA Sim Gill explained that the decision came down to a mix of timing and evidence. In letters sent to local police departments, the prosecutor noted that some of the reported incidents occurred more than three years ago, meaning they are barred by the statute of limitations.
As for the more recent allegations? The DA didn’t mince words. “Several incidents that were submitted do not rise to the level of criminal offenses,” the statement read. “The remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges where the State must be able to prove such allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The prosecutor further noted that the claims lacked “specificity” and “corroboration,” making it impossible to move forward with a criminal case.
This is a massive relief for the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives lead, who is currently under ongoing probation for a incident involving Mortensen. Had the DA pursued these new charges, Paul could have faced a third-degree felony and a potential five-year prison sentence for violating that probation.
While she won’t be heading to a criminal trial, Paul’s personal life remains complicated. Just last week, a Utah official ruled that she cannot spend “unsupervised” time with her toddler son, whom she shares with Mortensen.
The April hearing also resulted in Paul obtaining a temporary restraining order against her ex. Both stars are expected back in court on April for a protective orders hearing to determine the next steps in their ongoing legal battle.
Reps for Paul have not yet responded to requests for comment, and Disney, ABC’s parent company, has declined to speak on the DA’s decision.
For now, the “Country” and “Mormon Wives” star remains out of the courtroom, even if her future on the small screen remains a mystery to her millions of followers.
