Mormon Wives Drama Timeline After Season 5 Production Pause

If you’ve been trying to keep up with everything happening in the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives universe over the past two weeks, you’re not alone.

The drama has been coming fast and from every direction, from production shutdowns and police investigations to a divorce and even an unexpected kiss that had MomTok debating girl code.

Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the biggest moments from the Mormon Wives cast after production on season 5 was put on pause — and what it all means for the show’s future:

Taking a Pause

On March 16, 2026, multiple outlets reported that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 5 had paused production after star Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen were involved in an alleged domestic violence dispute weeks earlier in Utah. A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving the former couple, adding that “allegations have been made in both directions” after an alleged February 2026 incident.

Shortly after news broke of Taylor and Dakota’s open police investigation, their Mormon Wives costars reportedly met with Hulu and Disney executives to discuss a potential break from filming.

“It’s a dangerous situation, it’s a sad situation, and we don’t know how to navigate it because Taylor is our friend,” one cast member said during the 30-minute call, per NBC News, which obtained audio from the meeting.

Mikayla Matthews later confirmed the group decision on Instagram Stories, noting, “It was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”

A source exclusively told Us Weekly that Taylor’s costars were “terrified” to film with her amid the investigation.

“The women have made it clear they don’t want to be around her because they see her as a major liability,” the insider added, claiming the group “believed Taylor was in a better place” after she filmed The Bachelorette.

Taylor had been named the season 22 lead of The Bachelorette, which began filming several months later. She returned home in December 2025, just two months before her alleged altercation with Dakota.

Taylor Speaks Out — Then Everything Spiraled

Taylor Frankie Paul broke her silence on the police incident while speaking with Us Weekly at a NYC press dinner on March 17, 2026.

“There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” she said. “It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position. And the mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well.”

Days later, Taylor went on Good Morning America, where she addressed the Mormon Wives production pause and claimed she didn’t have control over the decision.

Then, on March 19, 2026, TMZ released footage from a previous 2023 altercation — the one discussed in the very first episode of Mormon Wives — in which Taylor could be seen physically assaulting and throwing multiple chairs at Dakota Mortensen while her daughter, Indy, is heard crying in the background. (Taylor shares Inday and Ocean with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever with Dakota.)

After the 2023 physical altercation, Taylor was arrested and charged with aggregated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief. She subsequently pleaded guilty to aggregated assault in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining charges. She is currently on probation, which is set to expire in August 2026.

Hours after the footage dropped, ABC pulled The Bachelorette season 22. 

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson told Us. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”

Dakota subsequently filed for a temporary protective order against Taylor and requested custody of their son, both of which were granted March 20, 2026. A hearing is scheduled for early April 2026.

A Third Investigation Surfaces

NBC News reported on March 25, 2025 that Utah’s West Jordan Police Department were looking into claims made against Taylor Frankie Paul by Dakota Mortensen following an alleged domestic dispute in 2024. Dakota contacted the department in February 2026.

Where the Cast Stands Now

Miranda McWhorter and Layla Taylor both spoke out in the wake of the latest alleged altercation, condemning domestic violence on March 20, 2026.

“Everything has been really heavy to see,” Miranda wrote via her Instagram Stories. “Domestic violence and abuse of any kind is something I take very seriously. As a human, and especially a mother, I cannot support that kind of behavior.”

Layla, for her part, noted in a separate statement, “My personal history as a survivor makes it impossible for me to stay silent.”

Despite the cast’s firm condemnation against domestic violence, they haven’t completely iced Taylor out.

“A lot of the girls have texted her to make sure she is OK. People are concerned about her mental health,” a source told Us, adding that Taylor “hasn’t been responding and is a mess.”

As for the future of the show, a second insider told Us, “The girls know they can continue without Taylor and want to keep going.”

The second source added, “This has brought them closer in a way, and they all have been leaning on each other, checking in. They want to make it work and finish out season 5 on a high note.”

Jessi and Jordan’s Divorce Bombshell

The rest of the cast has its own drama, too. Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce from Jessi Draper on March 19, 2026, after five years of marriage and just hours after the footage from Taylor Frankie Paul’s 2023 arrest made headlines.

Jessi later claimed on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she told Jordan she wanted a divorce on March 13 — but he blindsided her by filing first.

“We had made an agreement to do it together, and he blindsided me and filed because he wanted the headline first,” she claimed. “We agreed to tell our children together before filing, and we haven’t done that. … A betrayal.”

And Then, Jessi Kissed Miranda’s Ex

Days after the divorce filing, Jessi Draper was spotted kissing Chase McWhorter — Miranda McWhorter’s ex-husband — at a birthday party. DeuxMoi first reported the sighting, and a source confirmed to Us, “They were having fun at a party and it’s not serious between them.”

Miranda then told Entertainment Tonight she felt blindsided.

“Jessi reached out only after she knew Chase had told me something was going on with them,” she said in a statement. “I feel slighted by my friend. … I also hold my friends to a high standard and believe in girl code.”

After Miranda found out her ex-husband kissed her pal, she received an arrangement of flowers from Jessi.

“I completely understand you being upset with me,” Jessi wrote in a note, which Miranda shared via Instagram. “[I] wanted to send you a little something to let you know I’m thinking about you and I am so so sorry.”

One question remains: Can MomTok survive this drama? Stay tuned.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.