Dakota Mortensen has publicly addressed the now-closed police investigation into an alleged domestic violence incident involving his ex Taylor Frankie Paul.
In an Instagram post shared in the early hours of Monday, April 20, Dakota, 33, addressed attention he has received after news broke on March 16 that he and Taylor, 31, were involved in an alleged dispute that halted season 5 production of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, April 14, that Taylor will not be charged in light of the investigation.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos. That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity. My focus now is where it should have been all along-on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward,” Dakota wrote in black text against a white background. (The pair, who share a son, Ever, 2, engaged in a tumultuous romance from July 2022 until December 2024.)
Dakota’s post continued, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.”
The statement comes one day after Us Weekly shared details into an alleged February altercation between Dakota and Taylor. Dakota had claimed at the time that Taylor “grabbed” his neck and throat during an argument, with a friend of Dakota’s calling the Draper Police Department on February 23 to allege that Dakota was assaulted by Taylor. The friend claimed to a 911 dispatcher that Dakota was concerned about reporting the incident because of Taylor’s “celebrity status.”
District attorney Sim Gill told Us in a statement on April 14 that the alleged situation was thoroughly considered. “After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” the statement confirmed.
Dakota Mortensen Araya Doheny/Getty Images
Dakota’s Instagram post touched on how he will navigate moving forward after the investigation. “I’ve chosen to step away from the spotlight to focus on my family, my growth, and our healing, and that’s where my energy will remain,” he continued. “I’m closing an unhealthy chapter and moving forward with hope for better days ahead.”
He added, “I’m grateful for all of the encouragement and support I’ve received, and I’m committed to showing up in a way that reflects that. My intention, over time and when appropriate, is to use what I’ve learned in a way that supports others navigating similar situations.”
Taylor Frankie Paul Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME
Dakota concluded the post, “For now, my priority is on showing up as the best father I can be for Ever,” before adding a second image that contained contact details for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Three years prior to the alleged February altercation, Taylor was arrested following a separate altercation with Dakota. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault at the time, while additional charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief were dismissed.
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.
