Whitney Leavitt is breaking her silence in the wake of fellow The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Taylor Frankie Paul’s most recent domestic dispute.
“I have a lot of emotions about it and I’m still processing everything that’s happening, but the safety of human beings, especially children, comes first,” Whitney told Interview Magazine in an interview published on Wednesday, March 25.
Whitney, who did not mention Taylor by name, continued, “Always, period, the end. And I don’t want that to be tolerated. I don’t want that to be overlooked. It’s just so fresh. That’s all I have to say about that.”
Whitney’s comments come days after news broke that Taylor and ex Dakota Mortensen had allegedly been involved in a domestic violence incident in February. The recent allegations led Hulu to halt production of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 5.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us Weekly at the time that there was an open “domestic assault investigation” concerning the pair, noting that allegations were “made in both directions.”
“There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” Taylor exclusively told Us at a New York City press dinner on March 17. “It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position. And the mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well. So the headlines that are out right now are very hard to see because that’s not the truth of it. I have always treated my children with respect and I’ve never touched them. So it’s been really hard.”
Days later, TMZ released footage of Taylor assaulting Dakota and throwing multiple chairs at him — in the presence of their daughter, seemingly hitting the child by accident — in 2023. In the video, Taylor’s daughter was heard crying in the background. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul. She is also the mom of son Ever, 2, with Dakota.)
Taylor was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse and criminal mischief. She pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault in exchange for the other charges being dropped.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s costars on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives are worried about what comes next in the aftermath of her latest domestic dispute. “Some of the girls are anxious about the possible future,” an insider close to the cast exclusively tells Us Weekly. “This has rocked all of their worlds. Some of them […]
In the wake of the footage, ABC announced that Taylor’s debut as the season 22 Bachelorette had been pulled.
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson told Us in a statement at the time.
Taylor, for her part, said in a statement via her rep that she is “very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
“After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the rep said.
Taylor Frankie Paul is getting support from some of her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costars following the cancellation of season 22 of The Bachelorette. “The girls haven’t completely shut Taylor out,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly on Friday, March 20, noting Taylor’s castmates “have checked in on her.” The insider shares, “A lot […]
The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Dakota broke his silence in a separate statement.
“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny,” he said. “I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
Dakota has since been granted a temporary protective order against Taylor and given temporary custody of their son in relation to the February incident, per documents obtained by Us.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
