Taylor Frankie Paul Shared What Led to 2023 Domestic Violence Arrest

“I remember like throwing things, and I don't know my daughters on the couch,” Taylor—who shares one son with Dakota, and two kids with ex Tate Paul—said. “We had babysitters there, so I think they’re upstairs sleeping.”

Taylor explained she remembers throwing a chair and that Dakota tried to tell her that her 5-year-old daughter was present, but “I’m like so gone I don’t care, and I throw another chair.”

The reality star—whose upcoming season of The Bachelorette was cancelled in the wake of the video’s release—said at the time they weren’t sure if the chair hit her, but the police report stated that it did. A police report obtained by TMZ alongside the video noted police said the then-5-year-old had a “goose egg” on her head.

However, on The Viall Files, Taylor shared her mother took her daughter home that night, and they didn’t notice any visible injuries 

“I think she was crying cause she saw me crying,” the reality star, through tears, posited of her daughter’s emotional state. As she was being arrested, she remembers telling Dakota, “‘I'm hurting inside, like I can't do it.’ I couldn't cope. And then my daughter's in the window watching me and I don't care, I'm just so hurt.”

As a result of the incident, Taylor was charged with one count of felony aggravated assault, two counts of felony domestic violence in the presence of a child causing injury, one count of misdemeanor child abuse and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to court documents released by the District Attorney for Salt Lake County and obtained by E! News at the time. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault that August, while her other charges were dismissed, and she was sentenced to three years probation.

For Taylor, what hurst the most in hindsight is the level of carelessness she had that night. “I didn't care,” she shared. “And that's what like hurts, is I didn't think about her that night.” 

Following the release of the video by TMZ—who has not shared how they obtained the footage—ABC announced the March 22 premiere of Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette has been canceled. Just days before, a source confirmed to E! that filming of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season five had also been put on hold amid a police investigation into an alleged altercation between Taylor and Dakota in late February.

As for Taylor, in the wake of the Bachelorette shelving, her rep told E! News March 19, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”  

They continued, “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.” (In his own statement to E!, Dakota slammed the “baseless claims” made against him and emphasized his focus was on their 2-year-old.) 

To meet the men who were cast on The Bachelorette with Taylor, read on.