After filming was paused on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season five, Mikayla Matthews shared additional insight into how the decision was made amid an alleged dispute involving Taylor Frankie Paul.
It turns out The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is a democracy.
After news that filming on season five of the reality series has been paused in the wake of star Taylor Frankie Paul’s alleged domestic dispute with ex Dakota Mortensen, cast member Mikayla Matthews shared that it was a group decision.
When a fan asked during an Instagram Q&A on March 19 if filming was “actually on pause,” Mikayla replied, “It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”
As for the rest of the cast, as speculation mounted on social media that the pause had to do with distance between Taylor and the rest of the women on the series, cast member Jessi Draper weighed in on rumors that the rest of the cast were jealous of Taylor’s growing spotlight.
Within the Instagram comments of the No Filter With Zach Peter podcast on March 17, Jessi wrote, “It was never a jealousy thing lol.”
Police confirmed to People March 16 that Dakota and Taylor are part of an open “domestic assault investigation,” adding that “allegations have been made in both directions.”
In the wake of the news, a rep for Dakota—with whom Taylor shares 2-year-old son Ever—told Entertainment Weekly March 18 that Dakota’s “number one priority here is protecting” the pair’s son.
“He knew there was a possibility it could come out,” the statement continued, “but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor.”
The rep noted Dakota ultimately “wants to co-parent well” with his ex.
Meanwhile, Taylor addressed the alleged incident during promotion for her upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which premieres March 22.
“I’m a person that will always speak my truth—that’s what I’m known for,” the 31-year-old told Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer during a March 18 appearance. “So, when the time is right I will be. But right now, just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this, but the thing is my kids do come first.”
Taylor—also mom to two kids with ex-husband Tate Paul—added, “It’s been a back-and-forth process, just trying to be here in the present moment, worrying about home, and headlines. It’s been stressful, to be honest.”
Regarding the pause on filming, while she’s an executive producer on the series, Taylor noted she “doesn’t call the shots with production.”
