How Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Battles Cut ‘Mormon Wives’ Season 5 From 10 Episodes to 5
Taylor Frankie Paul has publicly been going through legal battles that led to the shelving of her season of The Bachelorette. In her ongoing custody battle with ex Dakota Mortensen, Paul has appeared in court many times and been on the giving and receiving end of domestic violence allegations. While a season of the show typically has ten episodes, this one will only have five because of Paul’s legal troubles.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s legal struggles shortened the ‘SLOMW’ season
Hulu recently renewed The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for 20 more episodes. This will give the reality series a sixth and seventh season. Per Deadline, however, the fifth season will only have five episodes.
In March, Hulu shut down production of the fifth season after video footage of a violent argument between Paul and Mortensen surfaced. In it, Paul threw metal stools at Mortensen while her daughter was in the room. Because of this, season five is significantly shorter than the other seasons of the show.
Taylor Frankie Paul spoiled ‘The Bachelorette’ on this season of ‘SLOMW’
The leaked footage of the fight between Paul and Mortensen also caused ABC to pull her season of The Bachelorette. At this point, Disney executives said that they may still release it. Paul may have made this more difficult, as she spoiled the end of her season on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
During a conversation with the other women, Paul confirmed that her season ended in an engagement. While she did not reveal who won, people believe the clear answer is Doug Mason. She also admitted to cheating on him with Mortensen. She said they began contacting each other once she left the show.
“Then, I come home,” she said. “Obviously we were texting. ‘When are you going to be home?’ I don’t know how it led to it, but he came over.”
Cast members say this is a darker season
Paul’s legal trouble plays out
on camera on this season of SLOMW. Her castmates say that this has made the season darker than normal.
“It’s no secret that MomTok has been going through some drama this year,” cast member Layla Taylor said on the Get Real podcast. “It was the start of the blow up, it was definitely a darker season but a necessary one to understand where everyone’s at.”
Paul, who will appear in the show’s sixth season, said she hopes future seasons will have more levity.
“There’s obviously always going to be drama with a group of women,” she said. “I would like for it to feel a bit more joyful.”
