'Mormon Wives' star addresses Taylor Frankie Paul fallout and pulled 'Bachelorette' season
NBC News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Jessi Draper, star of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," spoke out for the first time following ABC's cancellation of Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of "The Bachelorette" due to allegations of domestic violence against Paul.
- Paul is under investigation for at least three domestic violence incidents since 2023, including a February 2023 incident captured in a video showing her attacking ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen in front of their child.
- Draper expressed empathy for Paul, acknowledging the pain behind her actions while condemning the violence and emphasizing the need for accountability and healing.
- Court records show Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge related to the 2023 incident, with other charges dismissed, and a third domestic violence investigation is ongoing.
- Draper also discussed her own divorce and expressed hope for the future of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," emphasizing the cast's focus on healing before potentially returning to filming.
