After Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Scandal, ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Just Isn’t Fun Anymore

By Alison Herman

Alison Herman

TV Critic

Latest

• ‘Snowfall’ Spinoff ‘The Drop’ Is an Evocative, If Uneven, Portrait of South L.A. in the Gangsta Rap Era: TV Review 3 days ago
• Netflix Animated Comedy ‘Dang!’ Is an Enjoyably Chaotic Sibling Hangout: TV Review 4 days ago
• Alix Earle’s Inane Netflix Reality Show ‘Earle Meets World’ Is Like Watching Paint Dry: TV Review 1 week ago

SPOILER WARNING: The following story contains plot details from Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

From its very first moments, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has been inextricable from the toxic entanglement between #MomTok influencer Taylor Frankie Paul and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. Two years ago, the show began with a violent encounter between the pair as captured on police officers’ body cameras. (The incident resulted in Paul’s arrest and subsequent guilty plea for aggravated assault.) Then, earlier this year, a planned season of “The Bachelorette” starring Paul — a bit of crossover corporate synergy between ABC and “Mormon Wives” streamer Hulu, both owned by Disney — was canceled after more graphic, harrowing footage of the same fight was leaked to TMZ.

Related Stories

Robert Pattinson Wants Chris Hansen to Like 'Primetime' Despite His Criticisms: 'I Hope the Inspiration His Character Has Given Is Some Kind of Compliment'