Story perspectives

Utah Judge Orders Toxic Parents Keep 100-Foot Distance.

5/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

In the U.S., Utah Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen to stay 100 feet apart for three years on April 30, 2026.
He left custody unchanged, keeping Mortensen with their 2-year-old son Ever and limiting Paul to eight hours of supervised visits.
Minas described their relationship as “very toxic,” noting violence occurred and urging them to prioritize co-parenting.
Prosecutors in Draper and West Jordan declined to file criminal charges, saying evidence was insufficient.
A parenting-time recommendation is due by May 11, with a review hearing set for June 1.
Paul’s lawyer Eric M. Swinyard called the ruling a “step forward” and said she will keep cooperating with the court.

Summary

Story summary

ABC canceled the already-filmed season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor Frankie Paul hours after the video’s release, pulling the planned premiere.
Production on the Hulu reality series Mormon Wives was temporarily halted in March after several cast members refused to work with Paul, then resumed in April without her involvement.
An exclusive source said Paul “has the option to return” to Mormon Wives and is receiving strong support from cast and producers while focusing on her children, mental-health issues, and recovery from an abusive relationship.
The hearing materials reminded viewers that the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
The 2023 domestic-violence arrest, in which Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault after throwing metal chairs, resurfaced in March when TMZ released the video that sparked the recent legal actions.

History

Historical Context

President Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, providing $1.6 billion, creating the Office on Violence Against Women and setting federal protective-order standards. Reauthorizations in 2005, 2013 and 2022, plus the 2024 United States v. Rahimi ruling upholding its firearm-restriction provision, kept the framework alive. Utah Commissioner Russell Minas’ 2026 order separating Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen relies on that same protective-order system.

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Story summary

In the U.S., Utah Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen to stay 100 feet apart for three years on April 30, 2026.
He left custody unchanged, keeping Mortensen with their 2-year-old son Ever and limiting Paul to eight hours of supervised visits.
Minas described their relationship as “very toxic,” noting violence occurred and urging them to prioritize co-parenting.
Prosecutors in Draper and West Jordan declined to file criminal charges, saying evidence was insufficient.
A parenting-time recommendation is due by May 11, with a review hearing set for June 1.
Paul’s lawyer Eric M. Swinyard called the ruling a “step forward” and said she will keep cooperating with the court.

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