Judge says Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen showed ‘violence both ways’ in custody hearing

Disgraced Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen were determined to have both been violent in alleged domestic violence incidents by a Utah judge on Thursday.

In a custody hearing over the former couple’s two-year-old son Ever, District Commissioner Russell Minas told Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, that they had displayed ‘violence both ways’ in the past, according to People.

Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that Minas granted both Paul and Mortensen’s requests for protective orders against each other after the hearing.

The trial also included revelations about the couple’s tempestuous relationship, including a claim from Paul’s attorney that she had suffered two miscarriages before Mortensen accused her of domestic violence. 

In a statement, Paul’s attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, said, ‘Today’s hearing was a significant step forward as the Court entered protective orders requiring that Taylor’s ex-partner stays far away from her.

‘Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise,’ Swinyard continued.

‘Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories, and she remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive. She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to make progress in the custody case.’ 

The Daily Mail has also reached out to Mortensen’s representatives for comment. 

The latest development in their case comes after ABC opted not to air Paul’s season of The Bachelorette after disturbing video of Paul throwing metal chairs at Mortensen during a past confrontation resurfaced.

The joint appearance by the warring exes marks the first time they have been pictured together since they were engulfed in dueling domestic violence accusations.

In the livestreamed hearing, Minas said Paul and Mortensen can’t be around each other for long, as ‘it turns violent.’  

‘I’m finding that there’s been violence both ways between these parties,’ he said in court.

The judge added that Paul and Mortensen had to ‘figure out’ their issues for the sake of their young son.

‘I’m hoping you’re not just people who thrive on the drama and the conflict,’ he said, according to People. ‘You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents. This is dysfunctional.’

While addressing Paul and Mortensen, Minas said, ‘You’re linked together for the remainder of your lives. This is your legacy.’ 

Minas said the exes were ‘modeling right now how to deal with conflict’ in front of their son, and he warned that their controversial public displays could harm their child even as an adult. 

He went on to call out the ‘toxicity’ that Paul and Mortensen allegedly displayed.

‘I’m really intent on trying to keep the two of you away from each other for now,’ Minas declared, adding that they should ‘not be in the same place at the same time.’

Paul and Mortensen have their next custody hearing set for June 1, but Minas said they would receive recommendations on how much parenting time each should have with Ever before that date. 

During the tense hearing, Paul’s attorney said she had suffered two miscarriages before Mortensen accused her of domestic violence in February of this year. 

‘This was a very difficult time in their relationship,’ her attorney said, according to Us Weekly. ‘They were going through some challenges, of course, compounded by the fact that my client was dealing with two recent miscarriages.’

Paul’s lawyer said the miscarriages – which had not been previously disclosed – happened prior to Paul and Mortensen’s violent confrontation, which began on February 23 and spilled over to the following day.