'Bachelorette' star Taylor Frankie Paul accuses ex of abusive behavior
What's the story
Reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul has accused her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, of possessive behavior and a pattern of "abusive conduct and coercive control" ahead of the now-canceled premiere of her season on The Bachelorette. In a recent protective order filing obtained by People, Paul claimed that Mortensen's behavior became increasingly "possessive" as the show's premiere date approached. The allegations come after Mortensen had earlier filed for a protective order against Paul on March 19.
Allegations
Mortensen tattooed Paul's initials on his lips?
Paul's filing detailed Mortensen's alleged possessive behavior, including text messages expressing his desire for her. She also revealed that Mortensen had tattooed her initials on his lips, a revelation that she found "extremely alarming." A source told the outlet that Mortensen got the tattoo on February 14, just hours after Paul posted a Valentine's Day-themed promotional post for The Bachelorette.
Video release
Paul accused Mortensen of leaking a video to 'TMZ'
Paul also accused Mortensen of releasing a video to TMZ that showed her throwing metal chairs at him during a 2023 altercation. In her filing, she alleged that he did this to "humiliate" her. However, she later seemed uncertain about how the outlet obtained the video, writing it was "presumably Dakota." Mortensen responded to these allegations by denying them and calling them "baseless claims about me and our relationship."
Past incidents
Paul was previously arrested for alleged domestic violence
This isn't the first time Paul and Mortensen have been involved in a domestic violence incident. In 2023, Paul was arrested for alleged domestic violence after an argument with Mortensen. She was initially charged with assault, criminal mischief, and committing domestic violence in the presence of a child. She later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault under abeyance, meaning the charge could be reduced or dismissed if she meets the conditions of the plea.