Full Breakdown
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s Custody Battle Intensifies Amid New Text Allegations
7/11/2026, 4:32:50 AM
Custody Dispute Escalates with Text Allegations
On Friday, July 10, 2025, TMZ released a series of text messages in which Taylor Frankie Paul, 32, accused her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen, 33, of meeting “girls” after he replied that he was “getting food.” Paul’s messages included, “Who the f* you with? F*ing sketch liar,” and “Nah, you’re with girls. K go with that.” The exchange, sent in February 2025, added fresh tension to an ongoing Utah custody case that has seen multiple court interventions since the couple’s split in December 2024.
Legal History and Recent Court Rulings
The former “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” stars have been entangled in legal battles for over a year. In April 2025 a judge granted Mortensen temporary custody of their son Ever, 2, while limiting Paul to eight-hour weekly supervised visits. Earlier that month, mutual protective orders required both parties to stay 100 feet apart for three years. The July 10 hearing modified the agreement, expanding Paul’s unsupervised time and extending Mortensen’s weekend custody into Monday mornings. Separate from this dispute, Paul is also fighting a custody issue with ex-husband Tate Paul over their children Indy, 8, and Ocean, 6, after a judge rejected Tate’s motion to limit her unsupervised time.
Statements from the Parties
Mortensen posted on Instagram, emphasizing a desire for stability: “That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity. My focus now is where it should have been all along-on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward.” He added, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner… I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part.” Paul defended her recent rehab stint, saying, “I knew that I was in a spot to take a step back and be like, ‘OK, we need to reset.’” She stressed the stay was for mental-health reasons, not to “clear up any rumors.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Who the f* you with? F*ing sketch liar,” — Taylor Frankie Paul, text message
- “Nah, you’re with girls. K go with that,” — Taylor Frankie Paul, text message
- “Paul reacted to the favorable ruling via Instagram on April 15, writing, “Cried when I got the call ? THANK YOU to those that have stood with me.” — Taylor Frankie Paul, Instagram (April 15)
- “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.” — Dakota Mortensen, Instagram statement
- “But facilities are not for just substance. … There are a list of reasons why people go into that. Number one priority was just a reset for my mental health, and to get away, decompress, whether it’s one day, whether it’s seven, whether it’s 30. I willingly did that.” — Taylor Frankie Paul, Instagram Story (July 5)
Implications and Upcoming Developments
The latest court modification allows Paul more unsupervised contact with Ever, while Mortensen gains longer weekend periods. Paul is slated to appear in the opening title sequence of season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” though she is not expected to film additional scenes pending her mental-health focus. Both parties’ public statements suggest a continued struggle to balance personal grievances with co-parenting responsibilities, leaving the custody arrangement subject to further judicial review.
