Taylor Frankie Paul Struggles With School-Run Anxiety as Dakota Mortensen Saga Intensifies

Reality TV lightning rod Taylor Frankie Paul had a very normal, very human panic spiral at school drop-off… and then the day went the exact opposite of what she braced for.

The school moment that flipped on her

The 31-year-old star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives posted a reel on Wednesday, May 13, walking into her kids' school in full low-profile mode: oversized tee, sweats, sunglasses, the whole please-don't-look-at-me starter pack. She admitted her anxiety was spiking, convinced every parent had seen or heard something about her public mess with ex Dakota Mortensen.

Instead? Hugs. Phone numbers. Playdate invites. People literally saying, 'Girl, we feel you.' The kind of in-person warmth that makes the internet feel like a funhouse mirror. She said it was a good reminder that whatever a screen thinks of you is not the same thing as who you are, and that her healing is still very much in progress.

Her comments quickly filled up with the usual fire-and-heart emojis and a lot of 'so happy for you' energy from followers who were thrilled to see her get a win in the real world.

Where the legal stuff landed

This reel came on the heels of a major development: Paul will not be charged in connection with a February alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen, 33. The two share a son, Ever, who is 2. Paul also has daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul.

When she got the call that prosecutors were not moving forward, she posted a photo of flowers and wrote that she cried, thanking everyone who stuck by her.

Yes, she is still posting

Some followers have told her to take the healing offline. She says she is doing the opposite on purpose. Editing and posting videos is how she processes, the way someone else might journal. She knows most people would step back from social media, but she says she is not most people.

The TV wrinkle that raised eyebrows

Here is the curveball: Paul's season 22 of The Bachelorette was reportedly pulled from airing after a video surfaced from a 2023 dispute with Mortensen. In April, Disney 's unscripted and reality chief Rob Mills was asked if that season could still see daylight now that she is not being charged. His answer:

'Everything with that is one day at a time.'

Translation: nothing to announce, but not slamming the door either. Strange situation all around.

Quick timeline

• 2023: A video from a dispute between Paul and Mortensen leaks.
• February: Police respond to an alleged domestic violence incident; prosecutors ultimately decline to file charges against Paul.
• April: Disney exec Rob Mills says 'one day at a time' when asked if Paul's Bachelorette season could still air.
• After the no-charges call: Paul posts flowers and says she cried, thanking supporters.
• May 13: She shares her school-drop-off reel; expects side-eye, gets hugs and playdates instead.