Credit: Disney/Bahareh Ritter
Upcoming The Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul spoke out on the alleged domestic dispute with her ex, Dakota Mortensen. She also addressed reports that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is being put on pause amid the allegations.
Taylor appeared at a press dinner on March 17, days before she is set to premiere as the next Bachelorette on Sunday, March 22.
“There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” she told US Weekly. “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.”
She noted it took “everything” for her to show up to the press dinner due to the drama currently surrounding her, calling it “unfortunate” timing.
“It’s another premiere that’s been taken away from me,” she claimed. “I’ve never enjoyed a premiere for any one of my shows. So it’s just been very sad.”
In an appearance on Good Morning America, Taylor claimed it’s been a “heavy time” to see headlines, as The Bachelorette premieres soon.
“It’s supposed to be a really exciting time,” she continued. “I’m a person that will always speak my truth, that’s what I’m known for, and so when the time is right, I will be. But right now just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this. My kids do come first … it’s been stressful to be honest.”
She was also asked about SLOMW being paused, insisting she doesn’t “call the shots with production.”
“As far as I know, it was [paused], but I don’t know for how long,” she confirmed.
She also claimed it’s “hard to see” beyond what she’s dealing with right now when addressing her future on SLOMW.
“When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world. That’s what it feels like, I’m not going to lie,” she added. “But I will say, I’ve been here before, and I got through it and shared my story … so I’m hoping that I can do that again.”
In a clip shared by Entertainment Tonight on Instagram, Taylor insisted she’s been “misunderstood” for “years.”
“And it would just be so freeing to tell the whole story of it,” she shared. “I’ve just done a lot of protecting for my child and my family to really not get into that… I’ve never touched my children, and so for me to see those headlines has been heartbreaking. My family is all affected. They all know who I am. I know who I am. So for everyone in the public eye to just allude and believe it is very hard… sorry, it just sucks.”
As previously reported, Taylor has been accused of alleged child abuse and choking Dakota.