Statements are flying and fingers are pointing everywhere in the fallout of the cancellation of Season 22 of “The Bachelorette.” NBC is reporting on an alleged zoom call earlier this month where a Disney executive said he didn’t want to know too much about Taylor Frankie Paul’s behavior. Also Paul’s ex has released multiple statements refuting Paul’s new accusation that she has been suffering in silence from his mental and physical abuse. Dakota Mortensen categorically denied her claims and filed a restraining order against Paul on Thursday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hey, folks, it is Friday, March twentieth in it was
an afternoon and evening and overnight A number of developments
and the fallout after the canceling of The Bachelorette and
the cover yone ass is well underway and might just
be getting starting with that. Welcome to this episode of
Amy and TJ rohopes. Certainly a number of developments to
(00:33):
get to it, I'm not even sure where to start,
but the news is everywhere now. The Bachelorette was canceled
for this season. We got new statements overnight. We heard
from her ex, we heard from Taylor Frankie Paul, we
heard from Disney, and we heard some pretty damning stuff
from an NBC News report about a meeting in which
(00:54):
an executive was warned that there were videos out there.
That's a lot where you want to start.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, look the timeline.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I was actually trying to piece it all together how
this unfolded, because it's a lot of finger pointing as
we were expecting, a lot of statements flying, and a
lot of who knew what, when and why? And how
did we get to yesterday? That is the big question. So, yeah,
this investigation actually was February twenty fourth and twenty fifth.
(01:24):
That's what kind of started this whole thing, this domestic
violence investigation. Correct, So that created all of the snowball
effect of now where we are, So we're now hearing
about this. March seventh, Zoom with the cast with NBC executives.
Why woke up this morning? You pointed this out to me, Babe?
You got to read what NBC is reporting.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
And again, if somebody is going to have to take
the fall for this, somebody is going to get blamed.
And I wouldn't be surprised if somebody got fired. This
is too much money, this is too much of an investment,
and this is too much of a high profile, high
stake situation that somebody is not going to ask the
question why didn't we know about this? How could you
let this happen? And that appears Robes to please explain
to people who Rob Mills is over at Disney and
(02:08):
why Now this is a pretty robe. This is damning
and this was the one and some of this he's
going to have to answer for.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Ah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So Rob Mills is the executive vice president of Unscripted
and Alternative Alternative Entertainment at Disney. So he is the
big guy, and yes, that's reality TV basically falls under
his domain, so to speak. And so apparently he got
on a zoom with the cast members of the Secret
(02:38):
Lives of Mormon Wives to reassure them that they care
about their safety, because the women were expressing concern about
the what they call dangerous behavior of their friend Taylor
Frankie Paul.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And it was in that call. Again NBC News has reviewed.
They did get the audio of this zoom call. In
this zoom call to him of the.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Date, again, it was on March seventh, Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
March seventh. The show is supposed to premiere on March
twenty second. So on March seventh, a Disney exec was
in a meeting in which he was told not just
about violent behavior but the existence of videos. His responses, Robes,
as reported by NBC News, are should we be surprised,
(03:22):
but to see it given all that's happening now, Robes,
this is going to be problematic for him.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
This is damning for him.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And these are quotes again from NBC who reviewed the
zoom call. So again you've got the members of the
cast saying that they are concerned about distressing and upsetting
video recordings that are out there.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They specifically reference that, and so Rob Mill.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Says, I don't know a lot, nor do I want
to know too much. This is not putting my head
in the sand, but it's not me, you know, I
don't want to inquire because I don't know what that does.
Apparently the cast members doubled down and said do you
know that? Or they asked Mills if he was aware
(04:06):
that she's hurt a child, and he said, I.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Don't think for us getting.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Into it is right, and then he added the company
is never going to hide anything that is wrong for
the sake of business.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
This is going to be a problem. Somebody's going to
have to answer. He's going to have to answer that.
Disney's going to have to answer that, what did you
know when? And did you really put your head in
the sand his words? For the sake of this show?
Did he not know because he didn't want to know?
Is being presented to you. That's what it comes off
as we want to save room, leave room here for
context that's missing. We didn't see the whole video. What
else was said, we do not know, but those were
(04:42):
the quotes that they put out ropes. That sounds like
willful ignorance. To some degree, it sounds like, oh, I
heard some don't say anything else.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I want plausible deniability later plausible deniability. That is exactly
what that sounds like. But when you hear him say it,
it's seems very deliberate. I want to be able to
deny this, so don't tell me anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I don't want to know what I don't want to know.
How is that okay? When you're putting up a show
like The Bachelorette.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
The blame game is barely barely just getting started. Obviously
they knew about her previous conviction guilty plea, I should
say they knew about that. How much they knew about
the video? I don't know. We all said, robes. How
could they not know it was talked about at the time.
Surely they knew it was floating around out there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, the other thing is, how in the how could
they not know?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
They referenced that the production company overseeing secret lives of
Mormon wives had a private investigation.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Will you imagine that? We talked about how that had
to have been.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
The case where they hired a private law firm to
investigate these back and forth allegations being made by Taylor,
Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortenson. When they knew a police
there was an open, active police investigation from incidents in February,
February twenty fourth and twenty of course they're going to
have someone investigating that. So they said that they were
doing that. And then if you actually just look at
(06:07):
the indictment, do what TMZ did. Go in there and
see what was alleged. It is clear a video is
mentioned that there is a video of the incident.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
So the knowledge of a video was there.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So they were aware, okay, and they decided to go
forward with her knowing about the guilty plea. Okay, if Disney,
this is one way I would have stood by Disney.
If they would have come out and said, yep, we
knew about the conviction. It changes nothing just because we
see the video and we're moving forward. How we go Okay,
I ain't mad at them. I actually would have said, Okay,
(06:41):
you knew about it. The video changes nothing. We knew
about it, just because the we knew about it and
accepted it. But they didn't do that. Ro if they
got out of the Taylor Frankie Paul business almost immediately.
How long was it a matter of an hour or so?
More than an hour got public it.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
We talked about this earlier in the week when the
first allegations came out about this second open investigation that
Mormon Wives was on pause. Cinnabon says, yeah, we're out.
So we were wondering, what are they going to do?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
What do they do?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
They rolled Taylor, Frankie Paul out on her pres events,
Tatter talked to news outlets, Hatter sit down and do
a live interview a Good Morning America. So but they
were pushing ahead, and we thought to ourselves, what is
going to happen if a video was released, if something
is going to be released, and we said, they're going
to see how people react. They're going to look at
(07:35):
the reaction and make decisions based on public sentiment, not
on what is right or wrong, or what is best
for the show or best.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
For the network, or the right thing to do. It
was all going to be based on public opinion. And
that is what we saw.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Okay, fine, I don't know if it's a business. I
won't get into the Disney in the back and forth
and any type of moral judgments, even business judgments in
regard to the decision that was made. I was just thinking,
then what if the show had launched and then the
video came out.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, that would have been so interesting. I don't know.
They probably would have pulled it in the middle of
the season.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
They'd have had to, and Disney would have That would
have been a tougher decision or a look for Disney.
But how bad does it look that you all knew
this and we're still willing to go forward with Is
that a bad look at all? They are going to
be able to say we didn't know, we didn't see it,
it was represented to us as something different. They're going
to have to do that. Ah. Yes, ros we have
(08:35):
actually predicted this story almost one hundred percent accurately every
step of the way.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
We have, and it's been recorded.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Does not mean to be arrogant about it. But do
you see these It's not even tea leaves like it's
almost a been there, done that, know how this is
about to do?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It is been there, done that absolutely and also not shocking?
Were Taylor, Frankie Paul Stevens. She had one statement when
the video.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Is not shocking, No second one shocked me.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So the second one she doubled down shocked me. But
it's all about blaming someone else. Isn't that what we
see from everybody, from politicians to celebrities.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's just no one, almost no one. There are a
few people in the world who take accountability, but almost
no one does.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And so her initial statement, yes, blame Dakota, Blame Dakota,
blame Dakota.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
This is before ABC canceled the Bachelorette.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Then once ABC canceled the Bachelorette, we got a whole
news statement which, yes, our jaws did drop, But it
isn't that shocking actually when you think about it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So here's what they said.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Taylor is very grateful for ABC support as she prioritizes
her family's safety and security. After 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
(09:53):
and taking steps to ensure that she and her children
are protected from any further harm. There are too many
many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive,
jealous ex partners who refuse to let them move on
with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear
of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently
(10:16):
exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to
own and share her story.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I have right, this is a direct She is directly
accusing Dakota Mortensen of physical abuse of her. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Okay? So what was the thing lost? The line in
there survived.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Aggressive aggressive jealous ex partners.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Survive aggressive jealous Okay, babe. So we are now put
in a position that we don't have a choice but
to listen to her and support her because she has
just said that she is a victim of domestic violence.
The conversation stops because isn't that what happens? This is
(11:04):
a woman who has stood up and said, I am
a victim, like so many other women who are suffering
in silence, I am the victim of domestic violence. I'm
going to tell you my story later. There is no
haven't hasn't she short of that video? But she is
suggesting Robes that she is the victim in all of this.
And when a woman does that publicly, robes, what else
(11:26):
can anyone do? You can't question her story?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Well, she hasn't really given a story yet. Number one.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Number two, it is very important to note Dakota Mortensen
has never been charged with a crime and there have
been no other accusations against him other than from Taylor.
And when police did the investigation of what happened in
that video in twenty twenty three, notably she was charged
and he was not. We don't know what is going
to come out of this next investigation that's going on
(11:52):
from what happened in February, but certainly right now, no
one is other than Taylor saying that Dakota had done
anything wrong.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Okay, but she's saying it. This is a woman who
ropes the language in that it's specific to positioning her
as a victim who wants a community around here. I'm
like you, this is happening to me. I've been suffering
in silence. I was fearful of right, She's it was
a just a quick mention, I say quick, but a
passing mention of what's the physical abuse line in their vimb.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
She said she has been.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as
threats of retaliation.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Okay, she has. That was kind of a passing mention.
She has suffered mental and physical abuse. That is clearly
calling him a domestic abuser? Is she not?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
She absolutely is doing then.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I took issue or I have questions. She is surviving
aggressive excess? What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And suffering in silence?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I'm sorry, she'sve we No, I'm just saying. She has
publicly said this week that she speaks her truth, that
she's known for that, that that's her brand.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Okay, but I can't I don't know. She has to
be listening. We have to shut up. What do you do?
You cannot criticize her anymore? Isn't that right listening?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I disagree because of the video that we're seeing. Look,
there is the other point where, yes, people hear her out.
We will listen to her, and we will let police
do their investigating like we know they are doing right now.
But the point being is what we have is a
video that does speak for itself. It's kind of I
was likening it yesterday to what we saw from Christy Nome,
where we saw what we saw in Minneapolis, and she's
(13:42):
telling us that something completely different happened. Yes, I am
seeing a video and I am hearing her describe something
very different.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Okay, what she has not done. And she's been talking
a lot since the allegations came out. Before the video,
even the allegations out, she has not hinted once at
having any responsibility for anything that has taken place.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
That is correct?
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Is that right? Yes, not a hint, not a ooh.
That was ugly moment on my part. Nothing right is
that being? Is that the next statement coming?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Her admitting something I don't know, didn't feel like it.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, she wasn't the only one talking yesterday. We did
hear from Disney, We heard from Dakota Mortenson, the X
as well, who is in that video. Stay here, we'll
let you hear what all those sides had to say.
(14:41):
We continue here on this Friday morning. A number of
developments in the whole Bachelorette Fallout season has been canceled.
Actually ropes, let me hit that before I forget canceled,
But they used some specific language that made a suggestion
to seeing this thing could come back later as soon
as y'all called out that's.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Funny because I was going to point that out too.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
The the question is will they ever air the season?
They gave themselves room to do so at a later date.
If you look at their actual statement. There are three
words that jumped out to both of us. We have
made the decision to not move forward with the new
season of The Bachelorette at this time.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
At this time, okay, stand by. Who knows?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I mean, maybe they'll maybe they'd feel more comfortable putting
it on Hulu in six months, Maybe it doesn't air
on ABC, maybe they put it on more of a
streaming service where it feels okay to have something controversial
on the air.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I don't know. They did give themselves room.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They absolutely did the other thing. What we heard from
Dakota in a couple of statements, one from his people,
and I think he gave one directly to TMZ.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Correct The one directly to TMZ said this seems to
be in direct response to what we just read in
terms of Taylor Frankie Paul's statement accusing him of being
a domestic violence abuser. He said, as anyone who has
seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation.
I am unfortunately used to these baseless claims about me
(16:08):
and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing
on our son and his safety and hope that Taylor
will do the same. And from the rep they said
that Dakota's number one priority here is protecting his son.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
He knew there was a possibility it could.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Come out, meaning the video, but he was not going
to be the one to proactively do that because he
has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
It's been really hard to achieve that. But he wants
to co parent. Well.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as
he usually does, it would go away. He's never done
any kind of sit down interview about his side. He
just lets it all happen to him, and I think
he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Can't do that.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
So are they saying in that statement he is not
responsible for the leaking of the video. Yes, they're saying.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Oh, they're saying he is not responsible for the leaking
of the video. And TMC hasn't suggested that either, saying
this was a part of the police investigation. So it
is possible that they were able to either obtain the
video through a Freedom of information act or they knew
someone there who somehow gave it to them. But yes,
he is denying that he gave it. And also this
is a big headline. Yesterday Thursday, he filed a restraining order,
(17:21):
a protective order against Taylor Frankie Paul.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
And there are now reports that he will be seeking
custody as well. So this is going to have a
significant significant effects on everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's how you write a statement. I don't know if
it's how much of it it's true, I don't know.
I mean, that's just his side, but they hit on
some points that you go, okay, that kind of makes sense,
and I'm not I have no idea. He was accused
of domestic violence by her as well, not arrested for anything,
but we don't know the full story, but they're hit
on some things. He's a father. Oh yeah. By the way,
you notice he hasn't been talking right when you make
(17:57):
that statement.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
He hasn't.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
He hasn't, and all the reports are he has been
abused for a while and he's the one who keeps
refusing to call police. Other people have done so.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
And Babe, that is a good point because we found
out yesterday that he wasn't the one who actually called
police on these incidents. His friends literally saw bruises and
lacerations on him and called police to tell them what
had happened. So that is interesting and significant. It isn't
as if he was calling to be vindictive. It does
(18:27):
seem that other people were actually concerned about his safety
and their relationship.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I know, we have to leave open whatever possibility. We
just don't know what happened between those two, but we
know what police think happened. We know what police have
done in the past, and we know what now ABC
and Disney have done. We should mention Secret Lives and
Mormon Wives. That show is on hiatus right now. I
say hiatus, it's shut down production.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And you know what's interesting, It wasn't that the production
company shut it down.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The women did.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
They said they did not want to continue filming while
this police investigation was going on, and that's why they
were bringing their concerns to Disney executives. And look, Babe,
we sat down and watched the last episode of the
last season because there was so much said about what
was going on between Taylor and Dakota, and it was
(19:14):
frankly kind of appalling to see how she was going
into the bachelorette, where her mind.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Was, where her heart was where her head was it.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I was surprised and shocked that ABC and Disney were
okay with that final episode of the Secret Lives.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Of Mormon Wives leading into The Bachelorette.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
That episode completely discredits what was supposed to be the
upcoming season of The Bachelorette. It completely discredited Robes. We
watched that yesterday and I said, we absolutely got bamboozled.
This was a joke from the start. This was not
a search for love. This was not a There was
nothing authentic about her going into it ropes. It was
(19:57):
almost offensive. She didn't even want to get on the plane.
She didn't even want to go to California. Day before
shooting for the Bachelorette, sends her mom and her sister
with her kids. You all go, I don't want to go,
wouldn't get out of bed, and her mom kept screaming
the same thing over and over because mom gets it.
You have an opportunity, don't blow it. Her mom knows
(20:18):
you actually have a domestic violence charge on your record.
And a company like ABC with the show is important
to it. A legacy show like Bachelorette is handing it
to you to be a star. This is everything for you, Taylor,
come on and she refused, And what was the last
(20:40):
thing she said and the last person she talked to
before she got out of the vehicle to start being
filmed for Bachelorette.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Dakota Mortensen where they each told each other that they
loved each other, and Dakota said multiple times save a
rose for me.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
That is a joke.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
And any man who came in on that show in
good faith had to be so pissed off, pissed when
they saw that episode.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And we are standing by. We'll make another prediction. Those
guys are going to sue the production company. They're going
to sue Disney. They might even sue Taylor, Frankie Paul,
those guys sad lawyers in their ear.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Right now, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
You said that almost immediately, and I guarante just wait
for it.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Just wait for it, all right, folks. Well, happy Friday
to you. Just get the day started with those updates.
Look for the morning run. It'll be up on the
feed here shortly. I always appreciate you spending some time
with us on behalf of my dear Amy Ropebock. I
am TJ. Holmes, and we will talk for you all
sooner
Hey, folks, it is Friday, March twentieth in it was
an afternoon and evening and overnight A number of developments
and the fallout after the canceling of The Bachelorette and
the cover yone ass is well underway and might just
be getting starting with that. Welcome to this episode of
Amy and TJ rohopes. Certainly a number of developments to
(00:33):
get to it, I'm not even sure where to start,
but the news is everywhere now. The Bachelorette was canceled
for this season. We got new statements overnight. We heard
from her ex, we heard from Taylor Frankie Paul, we
heard from Disney, and we heard some pretty damning stuff
from an NBC News report about a meeting in which
(00:54):
an executive was warned that there were videos out there.
That's a lot where you want to start.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, look the timeline.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I was actually trying to piece it all together how
this unfolded, because it's a lot of finger pointing as
we were expecting, a lot of statements flying, and a
lot of who knew what, when and why? And how
did we get to yesterday? That is the big question. So, yeah,
this investigation actually was February twenty fourth and twenty fifth.
(01:24):
That's what kind of started this whole thing, this domestic
violence investigation. Correct, So that created all of the snowball
effect of now where we are, So we're now hearing
about this. March seventh, Zoom with the cast with NBC executives.
Why woke up this morning? You pointed this out to me, Babe?
You got to read what NBC is reporting.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
And again, if somebody is going to have to take
the fall for this, somebody is going to get blamed.
And I wouldn't be surprised if somebody got fired. This
is too much money, this is too much of an investment,
and this is too much of a high profile, high
stake situation that somebody is not going to ask the
question why didn't we know about this? How could you
let this happen? And that appears Robes to please explain
to people who Rob Mills is over at Disney and
(02:08):
why Now this is a pretty robe. This is damning
and this was the one and some of this he's
going to have to answer for.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Ah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So Rob Mills is the executive vice president of Unscripted
and Alternative Alternative Entertainment at Disney. So he is the
big guy, and yes, that's reality TV basically falls under
his domain, so to speak. And so apparently he got
on a zoom with the cast members of the Secret
(02:38):
Lives of Mormon Wives to reassure them that they care
about their safety, because the women were expressing concern about
the what they call dangerous behavior of their friend Taylor
Frankie Paul.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And it was in that call. Again NBC News has reviewed.
They did get the audio of this zoom call. In
this zoom call to him of the.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Date, again, it was on March seventh, Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
March seventh. The show is supposed to premiere on March
twenty second. So on March seventh, a Disney exec was
in a meeting in which he was told not just
about violent behavior but the existence of videos. His responses, Robes,
as reported by NBC News, are should we be surprised,
(03:22):
but to see it given all that's happening now, Robes,
this is going to be problematic for him.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
This is damning for him.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And these are quotes again from NBC who reviewed the
zoom call. So again you've got the members of the
cast saying that they are concerned about distressing and upsetting
video recordings that are out there.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They specifically reference that, and so Rob Mill.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Says, I don't know a lot, nor do I want
to know too much. This is not putting my head
in the sand, but it's not me, you know, I
don't want to inquire because I don't know what that does.
Apparently the cast members doubled down and said do you
know that? Or they asked Mills if he was aware
(04:06):
that she's hurt a child, and he said, I.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Don't think for us getting.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Into it is right, and then he added the company
is never going to hide anything that is wrong for
the sake of business.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
This is going to be a problem. Somebody's going to
have to answer. He's going to have to answer that.
Disney's going to have to answer that, what did you
know when? And did you really put your head in
the sand his words? For the sake of this show?
Did he not know because he didn't want to know?
Is being presented to you. That's what it comes off
as we want to save room, leave room here for
context that's missing. We didn't see the whole video. What
else was said, we do not know, but those were
(04:42):
the quotes that they put out ropes. That sounds like
willful ignorance. To some degree, it sounds like, oh, I
heard some don't say anything else.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I want plausible deniability later plausible deniability. That is exactly
what that sounds like. But when you hear him say it,
it's seems very deliberate. I want to be able to
deny this, so don't tell me anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I don't want to know what I don't want to know.
How is that okay? When you're putting up a show
like The Bachelorette.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
The blame game is barely barely just getting started. Obviously
they knew about her previous conviction guilty plea, I should
say they knew about that. How much they knew about
the video? I don't know. We all said, robes. How
could they not know it was talked about at the time.
Surely they knew it was floating around out there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, the other thing is, how in the how could
they not know?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
They referenced that the production company overseeing secret lives of
Mormon wives had a private investigation.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Will you imagine that? We talked about how that had
to have been.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
The case where they hired a private law firm to
investigate these back and forth allegations being made by Taylor,
Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortenson. When they knew a police
there was an open, active police investigation from incidents in February,
February twenty fourth and twenty of course they're going to
have someone investigating that. So they said that they were
doing that. And then if you actually just look at
(06:07):
the indictment, do what TMZ did. Go in there and
see what was alleged. It is clear a video is
mentioned that there is a video of the incident.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
So the knowledge of a video was there.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So they were aware, okay, and they decided to go
forward with her knowing about the guilty plea. Okay, if Disney,
this is one way I would have stood by Disney.
If they would have come out and said, yep, we
knew about the conviction. It changes nothing just because we
see the video and we're moving forward. How we go Okay,
I ain't mad at them. I actually would have said, Okay,
(06:41):
you knew about it. The video changes nothing. We knew
about it, just because the we knew about it and
accepted it. But they didn't do that. Ro if they
got out of the Taylor Frankie Paul business almost immediately.
How long was it a matter of an hour or so?
More than an hour got public it.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
We talked about this earlier in the week when the
first allegations came out about this second open investigation that
Mormon Wives was on pause. Cinnabon says, yeah, we're out.
So we were wondering, what are they going to do?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
What do they do?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
They rolled Taylor, Frankie Paul out on her pres events,
Tatter talked to news outlets, Hatter sit down and do
a live interview a Good Morning America. So but they
were pushing ahead, and we thought to ourselves, what is
going to happen if a video was released, if something
is going to be released, and we said, they're going
to see how people react. They're going to look at
(07:35):
the reaction and make decisions based on public sentiment, not
on what is right or wrong, or what is best
for the show or best.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
For the network, or the right thing to do. It
was all going to be based on public opinion. And
that is what we saw.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Okay, fine, I don't know if it's a business. I
won't get into the Disney in the back and forth
and any type of moral judgments, even business judgments in
regard to the decision that was made. I was just thinking,
then what if the show had launched and then the
video came out.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, that would have been so interesting. I don't know.
They probably would have pulled it in the middle of
the season.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
They'd have had to, and Disney would have That would
have been a tougher decision or a look for Disney.
But how bad does it look that you all knew
this and we're still willing to go forward with Is
that a bad look at all? They are going to
be able to say we didn't know, we didn't see it,
it was represented to us as something different. They're going
to have to do that. Ah. Yes, ros we have
(08:35):
actually predicted this story almost one hundred percent accurately every
step of the way.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
We have, and it's been recorded.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Does not mean to be arrogant about it. But do
you see these It's not even tea leaves like it's
almost a been there, done that, know how this is
about to do?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It is been there, done that absolutely and also not shocking?
Were Taylor, Frankie Paul Stevens. She had one statement when
the video.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Is not shocking, No second one shocked me.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So the second one she doubled down shocked me. But
it's all about blaming someone else. Isn't that what we
see from everybody, from politicians to celebrities.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's just no one, almost no one. There are a
few people in the world who take accountability, but almost
no one does.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And so her initial statement, yes, blame Dakota, Blame Dakota,
blame Dakota.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
This is before ABC canceled the Bachelorette.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Then once ABC canceled the Bachelorette, we got a whole
news statement which, yes, our jaws did drop, But it
isn't that shocking actually when you think about it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So here's what they said.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Taylor is very grateful for ABC support as she prioritizes
her family's safety and security. After 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
(09:53):
and taking steps to ensure that she and her children
are protected from any further harm. There are too many
many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive,
jealous ex partners who refuse to let them move on
with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear
of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently
(10:16):
exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to
own and share her story.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I have right, this is a direct She is directly
accusing Dakota Mortensen of physical abuse of her. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Okay? So what was the thing lost? The line in
there survived.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Aggressive aggressive jealous ex partners.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Survive aggressive jealous Okay, babe. So we are now put
in a position that we don't have a choice but
to listen to her and support her because she has
just said that she is a victim of domestic violence.
The conversation stops because isn't that what happens? This is
(11:04):
a woman who has stood up and said, I am
a victim, like so many other women who are suffering
in silence, I am the victim of domestic violence. I'm
going to tell you my story later. There is no
haven't hasn't she short of that video? But she is
suggesting Robes that she is the victim in all of this.
And when a woman does that publicly, robes, what else
(11:26):
can anyone do? You can't question her story?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Well, she hasn't really given a story yet. Number one.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Number two, it is very important to note Dakota Mortensen
has never been charged with a crime and there have
been no other accusations against him other than from Taylor.
And when police did the investigation of what happened in
that video in twenty twenty three, notably she was charged
and he was not. We don't know what is going
to come out of this next investigation that's going on
(11:52):
from what happened in February, but certainly right now, no
one is other than Taylor saying that Dakota had done
anything wrong.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Okay, but she's saying it. This is a woman who
ropes the language in that it's specific to positioning her
as a victim who wants a community around here. I'm
like you, this is happening to me. I've been suffering
in silence. I was fearful of right, She's it was
a just a quick mention, I say quick, but a
passing mention of what's the physical abuse line in their vimb.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
She said she has been.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as
threats of retaliation.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Okay, she has. That was kind of a passing mention.
She has suffered mental and physical abuse. That is clearly
calling him a domestic abuser? Is she not?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
She absolutely is doing then.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I took issue or I have questions. She is surviving
aggressive excess? What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And suffering in silence?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I'm sorry, she'sve we No, I'm just saying. She has
publicly said this week that she speaks her truth, that
she's known for that, that that's her brand.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Okay, but I can't I don't know. She has to
be listening. We have to shut up. What do you do?
You cannot criticize her anymore? Isn't that right listening?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I disagree because of the video that we're seeing. Look,
there is the other point where, yes, people hear her out.
We will listen to her, and we will let police
do their investigating like we know they are doing right now.
But the point being is what we have is a
video that does speak for itself. It's kind of I
was likening it yesterday to what we saw from Christy Nome,
where we saw what we saw in Minneapolis, and she's
(13:42):
telling us that something completely different happened. Yes, I am
seeing a video and I am hearing her describe something
very different.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Okay, what she has not done. And she's been talking
a lot since the allegations came out. Before the video,
even the allegations out, she has not hinted once at
having any responsibility for anything that has taken place.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
That is correct?
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Is that right? Yes, not a hint, not a ooh.
That was ugly moment on my part. Nothing right is
that being? Is that the next statement coming?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Her admitting something I don't know, didn't feel like it.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, she wasn't the only one talking yesterday. We did
hear from Disney, We heard from Dakota Mortenson, the X
as well, who is in that video. Stay here, we'll
let you hear what all those sides had to say.
(14:41):
We continue here on this Friday morning. A number of
developments in the whole Bachelorette Fallout season has been canceled.
Actually ropes, let me hit that before I forget canceled,
But they used some specific language that made a suggestion
to seeing this thing could come back later as soon
as y'all called out that's.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Funny because I was going to point that out too.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
The the question is will they ever air the season?
They gave themselves room to do so at a later date.
If you look at their actual statement. There are three
words that jumped out to both of us. We have
made the decision to not move forward with the new
season of The Bachelorette at this time.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
At this time, okay, stand by. Who knows?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I mean, maybe they'll maybe they'd feel more comfortable putting
it on Hulu in six months, Maybe it doesn't air
on ABC, maybe they put it on more of a
streaming service where it feels okay to have something controversial
on the air.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I don't know. They did give themselves room.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They absolutely did the other thing. What we heard from
Dakota in a couple of statements, one from his people,
and I think he gave one directly to TMZ.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Correct The one directly to TMZ said this seems to
be in direct response to what we just read in
terms of Taylor Frankie Paul's statement accusing him of being
a domestic violence abuser. He said, as anyone who has
seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation.
I am unfortunately used to these baseless claims about me
(16:08):
and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing
on our son and his safety and hope that Taylor
will do the same. And from the rep they said
that Dakota's number one priority here is protecting his son.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
He knew there was a possibility it could.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Come out, meaning the video, but he was not going
to be the one to proactively do that because he
has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
It's been really hard to achieve that. But he wants
to co parent. Well.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as
he usually does, it would go away. He's never done
any kind of sit down interview about his side. He
just lets it all happen to him, and I think
he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Can't do that.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
So are they saying in that statement he is not
responsible for the leaking of the video. Yes, they're saying.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Oh, they're saying he is not responsible for the leaking
of the video. And TMC hasn't suggested that either, saying
this was a part of the police investigation. So it
is possible that they were able to either obtain the
video through a Freedom of information act or they knew
someone there who somehow gave it to them. But yes,
he is denying that he gave it. And also this
is a big headline. Yesterday Thursday, he filed a restraining order,
(17:21):
a protective order against Taylor Frankie Paul.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
And there are now reports that he will be seeking
custody as well. So this is going to have a
significant significant effects on everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's how you write a statement. I don't know if
it's how much of it it's true, I don't know.
I mean, that's just his side, but they hit on
some points that you go, okay, that kind of makes sense,
and I'm not I have no idea. He was accused
of domestic violence by her as well, not arrested for anything,
but we don't know the full story, but they're hit
on some things. He's a father. Oh yeah. By the way,
you notice he hasn't been talking right when you make
(17:57):
that statement.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
He hasn't.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
He hasn't, and all the reports are he has been
abused for a while and he's the one who keeps
refusing to call police. Other people have done so.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
And Babe, that is a good point because we found
out yesterday that he wasn't the one who actually called
police on these incidents. His friends literally saw bruises and
lacerations on him and called police to tell them what
had happened. So that is interesting and significant. It isn't
as if he was calling to be vindictive. It does
(18:27):
seem that other people were actually concerned about his safety
and their relationship.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I know, we have to leave open whatever possibility. We
just don't know what happened between those two, but we
know what police think happened. We know what police have
done in the past, and we know what now ABC
and Disney have done. We should mention Secret Lives and
Mormon Wives. That show is on hiatus right now. I
say hiatus, it's shut down production.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And you know what's interesting, It wasn't that the production
company shut it down.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The women did.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
They said they did not want to continue filming while
this police investigation was going on, and that's why they
were bringing their concerns to Disney executives. And look, Babe,
we sat down and watched the last episode of the
last season because there was so much said about what
was going on between Taylor and Dakota, and it was
(19:14):
frankly kind of appalling to see how she was going
into the bachelorette, where her mind.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Was, where her heart was where her head was it.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I was surprised and shocked that ABC and Disney were
okay with that final episode of the Secret Lives.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Of Mormon Wives leading into The Bachelorette.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
That episode completely discredits what was supposed to be the
upcoming season of The Bachelorette. It completely discredited Robes. We
watched that yesterday and I said, we absolutely got bamboozled.
This was a joke from the start. This was not
a search for love. This was not a There was
nothing authentic about her going into it ropes. It was
(19:57):
almost offensive. She didn't even want to get on the plane.
She didn't even want to go to California. Day before
shooting for the Bachelorette, sends her mom and her sister
with her kids. You all go, I don't want to go,
wouldn't get out of bed, and her mom kept screaming
the same thing over and over because mom gets it.
You have an opportunity, don't blow it. Her mom knows
(20:18):
you actually have a domestic violence charge on your record.
And a company like ABC with the show is important
to it. A legacy show like Bachelorette is handing it
to you to be a star. This is everything for you, Taylor,
come on and she refused, And what was the last
(20:40):
thing she said and the last person she talked to
before she got out of the vehicle to start being
filmed for Bachelorette.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Dakota Mortensen where they each told each other that they
loved each other, and Dakota said multiple times save a
rose for me.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
That is a joke.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
And any man who came in on that show in
good faith had to be so pissed off, pissed when
they saw that episode.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And we are standing by. We'll make another prediction. Those
guys are going to sue the production company. They're going
to sue Disney. They might even sue Taylor, Frankie Paul,
those guys sad lawyers in their ear.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Right now, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
You said that almost immediately, and I guarante just wait
for it.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Just wait for it, all right, folks. Well, happy Friday
to you. Just get the day started with those updates.
Look for the morning run. It'll be up on the
feed here shortly. I always appreciate you spending some time
with us on behalf of my dear Amy Ropebock. I
am TJ. Holmes, and we will talk for you all
sooner
Hosts And Creators
Amy Robach
T.J. Holmes
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