Taylor Frankie Paul has provided insight into her current coparenting arrangement with ex Dakota Mortensen over their son, Ever.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 32, shared an Instagram Story on Sunday, May 31, that discussed the court-ordered supervised visits she complies with while spending time with Ever, 2. “I think all the projects and redoing is a fresh start but mainly a coping mechanism to distract from the fact my baby hasn’t been here for months now, aside visits,” the reality TV star wrote.
The words were pasted over a photo of Paul performing work on a scooter while seated on the ground of her home. A previous Story also showed that she was interested in fixing up a worn-out golf buggy.
“I miss you baby,” another Instagram Story from Paul read. Her words were pasted over a photo of her hand holding Ever’s.
Paul and Mortensen, who shared a tumultuous on-off romance that involved domestic violence incidents between 2022 and 2023, were granted protective orders against each other in April. Mortensen currently has temporary custody over Ever as the former couple battle for permanent custody in court. (Paul is also mother to daughter, Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul.)
In March, season 5 filming of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was halted after the duo were allegedly involved in a more recent domestic violence incident. Despite the lack of any criminal charges being made, the controversy led to Paul’s season of The Bachelorette being dropped by ABC just days before its scheduled premiere.
Mortensen and Paul are scheduled to appear in court over custody arrangements on Monday, June 1.
Paul’s Instagram Stories came amid an Instagram grid post on Sunday that reflected on the end of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month. “Still processing two shows were put on pause. Balled it up in both shows, made some boys cry and now I’m bawling. What is life?” she captioned a carousel of snaps. “Take it seriously, learn lessons but don’t forget to be silly too. It’s okay to smile again after making mistakes. Today is the last day of mental health awareness month and just know if you’re out there struggling you’re not alone.”
The carousel included photos of Indy as well as Paul wearing a t-shirt that read, “If you find me offensive then I suggest you quit finding me.” Another image showed a list of ticked emotional symptoms with the caption, “It said check any you struggle with currently for therapy.”
Symptoms included “low motivation” and “low self-esteem,” as well as “tearful or crying spells,” “panic,” “hopelessless” and “chronic pain.”
Just three days prior to Paul’s candid coparenting reflections, she had taken to her Instagram Stories to discuss the “psychological torture” that has recently affected her. “The psychological torture damaged me way more than the physical,” she wrote via the platform on Wednesday, May 27. “You eventually become a shell of a human. This is hard to share because it’s hard to come to terms with.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. https://988lifeline.org/
