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Bachelor Nation fans were excited to see The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul become the lead for the next season of The Bachelorette. Unfortunately, the season was canceled just days before the premiere. TMZ released a video showing Paul physically attacking her ex, Dakota Mortensen, in a moment that led to legal trouble for Paul. Now, everyone’s wondering who released the tape. Here’s what to know.

The Utah police say they didn’t release the video footage of Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen

The abrupt cancellation of The Bachelorette in March 2026 came after a shocking video involving Taylor Frankie Paul surfaced online just days before the season premiere. The footage originally came from a 2023 domestic violence incident. It reportedly showed Paul in a physical altercation with her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. While the incident itself had been previously reported, the release of the actual video intensified public backlash and prompted ABC to pull the already-filmed season entirely.

So, who gave TMZ the initial footage of Paul in 2023? The Herriman Police Department told The Salt Lake Tribune that they had nothing to do with it.

“When TMZ initially started all this frenzy … how they obtained that original video, we don’t know,” Sgt. Greg Shaver told The Salt Lake Tribune. “We didn’t provide that.”

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said his office also couldn’t comment on the viral video.

TMZ later posted another video showing footage from 2023 that originated from a police officer’s body camera during a follow-up visit to Paul’s home after the initial altercation. The video came from the Herriman Police Department, and TMZ obtained it through a public records request.

‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast members said they did not release the tape

It’s unlikely that the women close to Taylor Frankie Paul on The Secret Lives of Mormon Lives were the ones to release the tape. However, social media users suspected that the MomTok ladies could’ve had a hand in the drama. Miranda Hope fought this allegation with an Instagram comment.

“Haha the first time I saw that video was the same day you all did,” she commented on Instagram. “None of us girls have ever been in possession of it or any other evidence. My intent with my statement was not to shade Taylor, but to simply address that I do not support nor condone that behavior from either party.” Hope added that she and Paul have been “in a good place” after additional apologies.

“I have my theories on who leaked the video, but I can promise you it wasn’t any of the women,” Hope added.

Jessi Draper thinks Dakota Mortensen sold the footage to TMZ

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Jessi Draper Speaks Out on Taylor Frankie Paul Video Amid ‘Bachelorette’ Cancellation

In March 2026, Jessi Draper spoke about Taylor Frankie Paul and The Bachelorette cancellation on the Call Her Daddy podcast. Draper denied that possibilitiy of Paul releasing the footage herself.

“The thing about Taylor is she always tells the truth. She’s known for that,” Draper said. “I think she’s going to handle this in the best way possible. I think she’s taking a beat to figure it out. She’s not just running to TMZ and leaking stories.”

Draper then said that if she “had to guess” who gave TMZ the video, it’d be Dakota Mortensen. Podcast host Alex Cooper then asked Draper if she believes Mortensen “sold the video” to TMZ. Draper replied, “Yeah.”

“Everyone’s speculating about the timing,” Draper said. “Could be it. I definitely think that has something to do with it. I don’t know if he was holding it over her head for that long. Maybe they were doing it to each other. I have no clue the ins and outs. But I just think the timing is a little crazy.”

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