Reality Star Departure
Taylor Frankie Paul exits Hulu reality series following bullying and cast tensions.
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Key Points
1
Before announcing her exit, Paul had reportedly been expected to return for Season 6, while filming for the season had already been underway without her since July.
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Castmate Mikayla Matthews announced her own departure the previous week after learning that an unnamed “certain person” would return; Matthews said she would donate her remaining Season 5 earnings to the National Children’s Alliance.
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Paul alleged that cast members had previously told her to “lead the way of pay,” claiming her voice was needed to secure their compensation, but said she ultimately kept the same pay for everyone out of “fairness and integrity.”
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The series’ fifth season reportedly consisted of only five episodes, with coverage attributing the shortened season to legal issues surrounding Paul after footage of a 2023 incident showed her throwing barstools at her partner.
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Paul’s custody and domestic-violence controversies have affected other productions: after the incident footage became public, Disney reportedly shelved an entire season of “The Bachelorette.”
Taylor Frankie Paul, a lead cast member of Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," announced her departure from the show on September 21, citing months of bullying and scrutiny from castmates. IJR reported that Paul accused fellow cast members of collectively targeting her and laughing about her children, marking a dramatic exit before Season 6 filming wrapped.
Her departure follows ongoing custody disputes, a court-ordered drug test, and renewed public attention to 2023 domestic-violence allegations involving her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen. Deseret News noted that Season 6 has continued filming without Paul since July, while her previous castmate Mikayla Matthews also quit the week before, saying she could not profit from the situation.
Paul Claims Cast Turned on Her Over Pay Negotiations
Paul alleged that castmates previously asked her to "lead the way of pay" to secure everyone's compensation. According to her account, she kept salaries equal across the cast out of "fairness and integrity," only to face public criticism from the same people who requested her help. The tension escalated into what Paul described as systemic harassment and exclusion.
Mikayla Matthews Exits Days Before Paul's Announcement
Mikayla Matthews announced her own departure the previous week after learning an unnamed "certain person" would return to the show. Yahoo reported that Matthews said she would donate her remaining Season 5 earnings to the National Children's Alliance. She framed her exit as a moral stand: "There's no amount of money worth going against my morals."
Shortened Season and Past Violence Footage Haunted Production
Season 5 consisted of only five episodes instead of a standard run, a reduction Yahoo attributed to legal issues surrounding Paul. Footage from a 2023 incident showed her throwing barstools at her partner, leading Disney to shelve an entire unreleased season of "The Bachelorette" featuring Paul. Court records show Paul faced a 60-day mandatory drug and alcohol testing period ordered by Utah courts amid child custody disputes.
Reports via TMZ alleged Paul failed multiple court-ordered drug tests, resulting in severe custody restrictions: she was limited to eight hours per week parenting time with two of her children and faced a three-year mutual 100-foot restraining order with Mortensen. Legal sources claim leaked test results violated strict judicial gag orders.
Hulu Silent as 'Mormon Wives' Faces Major Cast Upheaval
Hulu has not publicly confirmed Paul's future with the franchise or the status of Season 6. Geo reported that filming continued without her, but losing the show's central figure raises questions about narrative cohesion and viewer interest. Industry observers noted deep fractures within the "MomTok" community, with fans divided over whether Paul is a victim of group mobbing or facing appropriate accountability for her conduct.
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