The new Hulu series is the latest in a trend of reality shows about TikTok influencers. This particular show follows the lives of Paul and seven other influencers from the Mormon MomTok group that became famous in 2022 due to a “soft-swinging” scandal.
The series also explores Paul’s relationship with Mortensen, whom she began dating in July 2022, a few months after announcing her divorce from her ex-husband, Tate Paul.
Fans were already aware that Paul’s new relationship wasn’t smooth sailing after Paul was arrested and charged in February 2023 for assaulting Mortensen. But “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” also gives insight into their problems: Mortensen wants marriage and Paul is afraid of making another mistake.
Despite the differences, the couple seem to have stuck together for over two years.
Here’s what to know about their relationship.
May 2022: Paul reveals that she and her ex-husband are divorcing.
Paul announced in a May 2022 TikTok that she and her prior husband, Tate Paul, were divorcing.
“In my twenties, getting divorced, started therapy, living on my own for the first time ever along with two little kids,” she wrote in the text overlay of the video.
Shortly after, Paul said in an Instagram live video that she and Tate had been “soft swinging” with other couples in their friend group. That was the inciting incident that eventually led to “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
July 2022: Paul launches her relationship with Mortensen.
In July 2022, Paul posted a TikTok video with Mortensen, introducing him as her new partner.
“I will not be sharing this one,” she wrote in the caption, tagging Mortensen.
November 2022: Paul opens up about going through an ectopic pregnancy.
In a November 2022 TikTok, Paul revealed that she had been pregnant with Mortensen’s child. However, after she began to bleed, she was monitored and eventually told that her pregnancy was ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus, and the fetus isn’t able to survive.
After the diagnosis, Paul said in her video that she “was treated” and was no longer pregnant.
February 2023: Paul is arrested after a reported domestic violence incident.
Paul was arrested on February 17, 2023 after a reported domestic violence incident, the Herriman City Police Department said. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” showed footage from the incident involving Paul and Mortensen, and her arrest, at the end of the series premiere. A police officer from the department said in a written testimony included in court documents that video of the incident showed Paul throwing metal stools at Mortensen, one of which hit her daughter Indy, and striking Mortensen, E! News reported.
Paul said on the Viall Files podcast in September 2024 that while the police report says that one of the chairs hit her daughter, “it might have not hit her at all.” According to the Salt Lake Tribune, police said that a detective was informed the child had a “goose-egg” injury on her head.
Mortensen told Daily Mail on February 23, 2023, that Paul would never “hurt anyone intentionally.”
“She’s a good mom, she’s going through a lot in her life right now. Taylor’s been struggling, it’s been a hard year for her. She is racked with guilt on her cheating scandal that cost her her marriage,” he said.
In March of that year, Paul was charged with two felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, one felony count of aggravated assault, and one misdemeanor count of child abuse and criminal mischief, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
In August 2023, Paul entered a plea in abeyance to the aggravated assault felony charge, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The four other charges were dismissed with prejudice, according to the publication.
Under the terms of her plea agreement, Paul is supervised by a probation officer, required to undergo drug testing, and prohibited from entering establishments where alcohol is the primary item of sale. She was also required to get both a substance abuse and domestic violence evaluation, and finish any recommended treatment. She is prohibited from any law infractions above a minor traffic violation.
June 2023: Paul confirms that she and Mortensen are together.
Paul posted a TikTok video in June 2023, affirming that she and Mortensen were dating.
Sometime that summer, Paul became pregnant with her and Mortensen’s first child.
Spring 2024: Paul and Mortensen document their relationship difficulties on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
Paul and Mortensen’s relationship, particularly in the late phases of her pregnancy, is a big focus on the show. Paul was reluctant to agree to marry Mortensen, citing a lack of trust. In episode seven, Mortensen was unhappy after Paul went to a Chippendales show in Las Vegas, and Paul left with two of her cast mates.
Throughout the season, Paul confides in fellow Momtoker Mayci Neeley about her relationship with Mortensen, leading Neeley to feel skeptical of Mortensen. In episode six, Neeley shares that she received an anonymous tip via Instagram from a woman who said that she had slept with Mortensen while he and Paul were dating without knowing he was in a relationship.
Though the woman’s identity is not revealed, Neeley believes the person is a woman named Jenna, who dated Mortensen around the time he began dating Paul.
Earlier in the show, Paul said that she and Mortensen were not initially exclusive when he dated Jenna, but he lied that he wasn’t dating anyone else when she asked.
Paul said Mortensen later came clean when she confronted him again after she had received a message from someone else saying he was cheating on her.
In episode eight, Neeley passed the information on to Paul, who eventually confronted Mortensen about it. In the season finale, Neely called Jenna on Paul’s behalf.
March 2024: Paul gives birth to her and Mortensen’s son.
Paul announced on Instagram that her and Mortensen’s son, Ever True, was born on March 19.
“Ever True was born March 19th, 6lbs 15oz a week early and we’ve had the best two weeks with him. We all love you so much, thank you for blending our family,” she wrote in the caption of the post.
“Dakota, he was such a good partner in the process and very supportive,” Paul said in a confessional about her birth. “I’m like, on cloud nine, and this is like the first time I’ve been so confident in us, in a future. I just — I hope that I can trust him.”
September 2024: Paul says she’s still annoyed about Mortensen hooking up with Jenna behind her back.
On September 4, Paul appeared on “The Viall Files” podcast to address her previous scandals and her appearance on “The Secret Wives to Mormon Wives.”
During the episode, Paul said she was insecure about her relationship with Mortensen because he had canceled plans with Paul to hook up with Jenna when he was secretly dating Jenna.
“It’s not about Jenna. It’s not. It’s about me feeling insecure and feeling less than and unworthy and not good enough,” Paul said. “in my head, that’s why I’m still like pissed to this day. Like it triggers me, it’s crazy. I don’t know how I’m not over it, but it’s like the feelings that I wasn’t good enough to be chosen at that time.”
Paul said Mortensen has apologized, but she “cannot let it go” and is getting therapy to work through her insecurity.
“He’s a good man, and I do want to marry him. That’s the goal, but I feel like I just need some self-work before,” Paul said.
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