You’ve seen the clips. The Stanley cups, the perfectly curled blonde hair, and those synchronized dances in beige living rooms. But when the Taylor Frankie Paul leaks first hit the fan in 2022, it wasn't just another TikTok trend. It was a total demolition of the "perfect" Mormon housewife aesthetic.
The internet went absolutely feral.
Honestly, the term "leaks" gets thrown around a lot, but what we actually saw was a calculated, messy, and very public unraveling of a secret lifestyle that nobody saw coming. It started with a divorce announcement and ended with the phrase "soft swinging" becoming a household term. If you’re trying to piece together the timeline of how a TikTok mom became the most controversial figure in Utah, you have to look at the facts—and the legal drama that followed.
The "Soft Swinging" Reality
Taylor didn't just get caught. She basically lit the match herself.
In May 2022, during a TikTok Live that felt more like a confession booth than a social media broadcast, Taylor admitted that she and her then-husband, Tate Paul, were part of a "soft swinging" group. For those not deep in the weeds of the MomTok lore, this meant a very specific set of rules. They were allowed to hook up with other couples, but they weren't supposed to "go all the way" without their spouses in the room.
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It sounds complicated because it was.
The "leak" wasn't a private video or a hacked document. It was Taylor exposing the internal mechanics of her friend group because she felt she was being painted as the only villain. She admitted to "stepping out" of the agreement by catching feelings for another man in the group—later identified by fans as Brayden Rowley—and hooking up with him privately.
Who was actually involved?
While Taylor said "everyone has hooked up with everyone," the fallout was uneven.
- Miranda and Chase McWhorter: Originally denied everything. Later, on the Hulu show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the truth became a bit more porous. Miranda eventually admitted to things like "spin the bottle," but the exact level of intimacy is still a point of massive contention between her and Taylor.
- Tate Paul: Her ex-husband. He mostly stayed quiet, but the divorce was swift.
- The Rest of MomTok: Most of the women, like Whitney Leavitt and Mayci Neeley, spent months posting "not us" content to distance themselves from the scandal.
The Arrest and the Body Cam Footage
If the swinging scandal was the peak of the drama, the 2023 arrest was the rock bottom. This wasn't a leaked rumor; it was a public record that changed the tone from "messy reality TV" to "serious legal trouble."
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In February 2023, Taylor was arrested in Herriman, Utah. The charges were heavy: domestic violence in the presence of a child, aggravated assault, and child abuse. Police responded to a domestic dispute between Taylor and her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
The body cam footage eventually made its way to the public and was even featured in the Hulu series. It showed a side of the influencer lifestyle that no filter could fix. According to the probable cause statement, Taylor threw metal barstools at Dakota. One of those stools accidentally hit her 5-year-old daughter, Indy, who was on the couch.
Taylor eventually took a plea deal in August 2023. She pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault (a third-degree felony), while the other charges were dismissed. As of 2026, she is still navigating the terms of that plea deal, which included supervised probation and substance abuse evaluations.
Life After the Fallout: Where is Taylor Now?
You’d think a felony charge and a swinging scandal would be the end of a career. In the world of reality TV, it’s just the prologue.
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By late 2024 and throughout 2025, Taylor's life took a series of hard turns. She and Dakota had a son together, Ever, in March 2024. But the relationship was a rollercoaster. Infidelity rumors—mostly involving Dakota and a woman named Jenna—plagued them for months. By mid-2025, Taylor officially called it quits, citing a breach of trust she couldn't move past.
The 2026 Bachelorette Pivot
In a move that absolutely nobody saw coming, ABC broke its long-standing tradition of casting from within its own franchise. Taylor Frankie Paul is the Bachelorette for 2026. It’s a massive gamble for the network. They’re betting on her "raw, unapologetic" vibe to save declining ratings. Critics are losing their minds over her past, but the "MomTok" audience is locked in. She’s the first lead who didn't come from a previous season of The Bachelor, and her season, which premieres March 22, 2026, is expected to be the most-watched in years.
The Actionable Truth for Fans
If you're following the Taylor Frankie Paul leaks and the ongoing saga, it's easy to get lost in the TikTok comments. Here is what you actually need to know to stay informed:
- Check the Sources: Don't trust every "leaked" screenshot on Reddit. Most of the real information comes from Salt Lake County court records or verified interviews on podcasts like The Viall Files or Call Her Daddy.
- Understand the Legal Terms: Taylor’s "guilty plea in abeyance" means if she stays out of trouble until August 2026, her felony charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor. Her "clean" record depends entirely on her current behavior.
- Separate the Show from Reality: Remember that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is edited for maximum drama. The timeline on the show often overlaps or shifts events to make the narrative flow better.
The story of Taylor Frankie Paul isn't just about swinging or a bad breakup. It’s a case study in how social media fame can turn a private crisis into a global brand. Whether she finds "true love" on ABC or just another season of drama, the MomTok era has permanently changed how we consume influencer culture.
Keep an eye on the 2026 court review date—that will be the final word on her legal redemption. For now, the roses are hers to give.