I don’t have beef with Mormons or Mormonism in general. Do I think that Mormonism, as a religion, holds up to any kind of scrutiny? Not really. But I’ve met Mormons and they’re nice people. Back in the day, Mormons were known for being straight-arrows who never drank or did drugs or even drank coffee. They were also known for marrying young and sticking with their partners for life. But obviously, Millennial and Gen Z Mormons changed the image of Mormonism. Especially when it comes to shows like The Secret Lives of Mormons, where people could see all of the chaos and “soft swinging” some consider a modern Mormon lifestyle. Speaking of, Taylor Frankie Paul was one of those soft-swinging Mormons. She actually divorced her first husband and quickly got involved with Dakota Mortensen. That’s the guy she repeatedly assaulted in the past two years, as it turns out that she was under investigation for multiple instances of domestic violence. Her assaults ended up blowing up her Bachelorette season AND The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is on hiatus because of it too. Well, Taylor has decided that this is the moment to detach from LDS.
Taylor Frankie Paul is stepping away from Mormonism amid upheaval in her personal life.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star shared her decision to distance herself from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Easter Sunday, writing via Instagram Stories that she wants to “detach” herself from the religion.
“Born and raised Mormon (lds) and I’ll always have love and respect towards it. I’ll even continue to go [to church] with my family at times, with that being said, it’s time to detach myself from it,” she shared alongside a bandaged heart emoji.
She continued, “I strongly believe in Christ, God, the bible, the divine. I believe we are loved whether we are praying in [a] church building or from a bathroom floor at home. I’ve also experienced grace and love from amazing people that aren’t sure what they believe if at all and that’s okay too. Point being there is more out there to learn. And I’m writing this out as a release.”
Paul went on to share an Easter coloring sheet by her kids and a snapshot of her Spotify playlist, which included the song “Hanging on Hope” by Buffalo Traffic Jam. “On replay lately,” she shared.
Paul has experienced a tumultuous start to 2026. Her planned season of The Bachelorette was canceled by ABC last month amid the release of a video of her 2023 altercation with her ex Dakota Mortensen. In the clip, Paul can be seen throwing a chair at Mortensen while the daughter she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul was present.
While she isn’t stating this explicitly, I have the sense that she’s trying to say that her recent ruination was partly because of LDS? And that’s not really true. Her church didn’t force her to repeatedly beat on her boyfriend. Her church didn’t force her to “soft-swing” in her first marriage. Her church didn’t force her onto The Bachelorette. Also, props to her for leaving a church when the sh-t hits the fan. Usually, when a celebrity is mired in controversy, that’s when they suddenly find religion. Anyway, I think there’s something seriously wrong with this woman. Which makes it all the more shameful that Disney/ABC was fully prepared to exploit her violent drama for ratings.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- Hollywood, CA Taylor Frankie Paul Loses Custody Temporarily amid Ongoing Domestic Assault Investigation. Pictured Here: Taylor Frankie Paul at the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California. Pictured: Taylor Frankie Paul BACKGRID USA 20 MARCH 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Hollywood, CA Taylor Frankie Paul Loses Custody Temporarily amid Ongoing Domestic Assault Investigation. Pictured Here: Taylor Frankie Paul at the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California. Pictured: Taylor Frankie Paul BACKGRID USA 20 MARCH 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles season 2 premiere of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ at Paramount Pictures Studio Featuring: Taylor Frankie Paul Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 09 May 2025 Credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images
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- Los Angeles season 2 premiere of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ at Paramount Pictures Studio Featuring: Taylor Frankie Paul Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 09 May 2025 Credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images
My guess is she’s trying to cover for the likelihood that they “disenfranchised” her. It’s been done for FAR less …
Is that the term? Something like an excommunication, where no one from your family is even allowed to talk to you anymore?
Seems like she left them before she got kicked out, but what do I know.
I won’t speak to TFP because her situation is uniquely terrible but if you actually watch SLOMW… For many of these young women, yes, the LDS religion is a huge problem and a huge reason why so many of these young women feel lost and wrong in their minds and bodies.
Take Layla for example: a young black girl who was taught by the church that her skin and eye colour would become blue if she was favoured by God. She has a server ED and had two children before she was 22 with a man she did not love because, her words, “I sinned by having sex. I had to make it right by getting married and having babies.”
That’s so sad and vile. Imagine being literally the black sheep and she would only become a lamb of God and join the holy flock and become like the rest of the sheep only if the lord favoured her essentially. What a heavy burden to carry being one of the few black people and her skin color marking her as unchosen and without favour.
The church was probably going to revoke her membership/excommunicate her. Even if they didn’t, the level of scrutiny and gossip she would face would be a reason to leave.
Is she leaving of her own accord or was she asked to leave? And from what I learned from the RHOSLC, it’s a bit of a complicated process & you need a lawyer to make it happen. The church does not want to let go of its 10% tithe of your paycheck.